Structurally-colored articles and methods for making and using structurally-colored articles

ABSTRACT

As described above, one or more aspects of the present disclosure provide articles having structural achromatic color, and methods of making articles having structural achromatic color. The present disclosure provides for articles that exhibit structural color upon exposure to white light (e.g., sunlight, artificial light, or a combination) that shifts based on the angle of observation and/or incident light. At least one shift in the structural color is between an achromatic structural color and a chromatic structural color. The shift occurs at different angles of observation and/or angle of incident light.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, co-pending U.S. patent applicationentitled “STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USINGSTRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES,” filed on Oct. 21, 2019, and assignedapplication No. 62/923,787 which is incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

BACKGROUND

Structural color is caused by the physical interaction of light with themicro- or nano-features of a surface and the bulk material as comparedto color derived from the presence of dyes or pigments that absorb orreflect specific wavelengths of light based on the chemical propertiesof the dyes or pigments. Color from dyes and pigments can be problematicin a number of ways. For example, dyes and pigments and their associatedchemistries for fabrication and incorporation into finished goods maynot be environmentally friendly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further embodiments of the present disclosure will be more readilyappreciated upon review of the detailed description of its variousembodiments, described below, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1A-1M shows various articles of footwear, apparel, athleticequipment, container, electronic equipment, and vision wear that includethe primer layer in accordance with the present disclosure, while FIGS.1N(a)-1Q(e) illustrate additional details regarding different types offootwear.

FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of exemplary optical element of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of exemplary optical element of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate graphs of wavelength as a function of percentreflectance and absorbance, respectively, where each graph isillustrative of measurement of various parameters when the achromaticstructural color is black.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate graphs of wavelength as a function of percentreflectance and absorbance, respectively, where each graph isillustrative of measurement of various parameters when the achromaticstructural color is white.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate graphs of wavelength as a function of percentreflectance and absorbance, respectively, where each graph isillustrative of measurement of various parameters when the achromaticstructural color is neutral gray.

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides for articles that exhibit structuralcolor upon exposure to white light (e.g., sunlight, artificial light, ora combination) that shifts based on the angle of observation and/orincident light. At least one shift in the structural color is between anachromatic structural color and a chromatic structural color. The shiftoccurs at different angles of observation and/or angle of incident light(e.g., about 10 or 15 degrees). The shift is not an iridescent shift incolor and/or does not shift to an iridescent color. The structural colorshift can be achieved using of an optical element. In this regard, thepresent disclosure provides for articles that exhibit a structural colorshift between achromatic structural color and chromatic structural color(or vice versa) upon exposure to white light at different angles ofobservation and/or different angles of incident light, where thestructural color is imparted by the optical element. The structuralcolor (achromatic or chromatic color) is a visible color produced, atleast in part, through optical effects (e.g., through scattering,refraction, reflection, interference, and/or diffraction of visiblewavelengths of light). The optical element (e.g., a single layer ormultilayer reflector or a single layer or multilayer filter; inorganicand/or organic material) can include the reflective layer(s) and/orconstituent layer(s). In one embodiment, the reflective layer(s) and/orconstituent layer(s) can be flat (planar) or substantially flat(substantially planar) or can have a textured topography or texturedsurface.

A “chromatic color” is a color in which one particular wavelength or huepredominates, while an “achromatic color” is a color in which noparticular wavelength or hue predominates, as all wavelengths or huesare present in equal parts or substantially equal parts. The chromaticcolor can be selected from a red/yellow/blue (RYB) primary color, a RYBsecondary color, a RYB tertiary color, a RYB quaternary color, a RYBquinary color, or a chromatic color that is a combination thereof. Thechromatic color can be red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, or achromatic color that is a combination thereof. The chromatic color canbe red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, or a chromaticcolor that is a combination thereof. The chromatic color has hue and/orchroma according the Munsell color system. The chromatic color does notinclude black, white, or neutral gray. In an aspect, chromatic color andachromatic color are mutually exclusive of one another.

The achromatic color can be selected from black, white, or neutral gray.When the achromatic color is black, white, or a neutral gray, the phrase“pure achromatic color” can be used. As used herein, the achromaticcolor excludes the following colors: a warm gray, a warm brown, a warmtan, a cool gray, a cool brown, a cool tan, each of which is considereda chromatic color. For example, a warm gray, a warm brown, and a warmtan would be colors in which yellow or red predominates and so would notbe achromatic. Similarly, a cool gray, a cool brown, and a cool tanwould be colors in which blue or green predominates, and so would not beachromatic. Achromatic gray can include gainsboro gray, light gray,silver gray, medium gray, spanish gray, gray, dim gray, Davy's gray, jetgray, and the middle grays.

When the achromatic structural color is black, the optical elementreflects all or substantially all of the wavelengths within the range ofabout 380 to 740 nanometers to substantially the same degree. Thepercent reflectance of the optical element is about 2 percent or less,about 1 percent or less, about 0.5 percent or less, about 0.1 percent orless, or 0 percent within the range of about 380 to 740 nanometers tosubstantially the same degree when the achromatic structural color isblack. The percent absorbance of the optical element is about 98 percentor more, about 99 percent or more, about 99.5 percent or more, about99.9 percent or more, about 100 percent within the range of about 380 to740 nanometers to substantially the same degree when the achromaticstructural color is black.

When the achromatic structural color is white, the optical elementabsorbs all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to 740 nanometersto substantially the same degree. The percent absorbance of the opticalelement is about 2 percent or less, about 1 percent or less, about 0.5percent or less, about 0.1 percent or less, or 0 percent within therange of about 380 to 740 nanometers to substantially the same degreewhen the achromatic structural color is white. The percent reflectanceof the optical element is about 98 percent or more, about 99 percent ormore, about 99.5 percent or more, about 99.9 percent or more, or about100 percent within the range of about 380 to 740 nanometers tosubstantially the same degree when the achromatic structural color iswhite.

If the achromatic structural color is neutral gray, then the percentabsorbance is between the percent absorbance of black and white or thepercent reflectance is between the percent absorbance of black andwhite. When the achromatic structural color is neutral gray, the percentabsorbance of the optical element is about 2 to 98 percent, about 1 to99 percent, about 0.5 to about 99.5 percent, or about 0.1 to about 99.9,within the range of about 380 to 740 nanometers to substantially thesame degree. The percent reflectance of the optical element is about 2to 98 percent, about 1 to 99 percent, about 0.5 to about 99.5 percent,or about 0.1 to about 99.9, within the range of about 380 to 740nanometers to substantially the same degree, when the achromaticstructural color is neutral gray.

The structural color shift (e.g., gradual or abrupt) occurs due to achange in the angle of incident light upon the optical element and/orupon a change in the observation angle of the optical element. Thestructural color can change from the achromatic color to the chromaticcolor or vice versa as the angle of incident light upon the opticalelement changes and/or as the observation angle of the optical elementchanges.

The change in the structural color upon a change in the angle ofincident light and/or the observation angle upon the optical element canbe evaluated using the CIE 1976 color space under a given illuminationcondition at two observation angles of about −15 and 180 degrees orabout −15 degrees and +60 degrees and which are at least 15 degreesapart from each other. Under CIE 1976 color space under a givenillumination condition a color measurement having coordinates L₁* anda₁* and b₁* can be obtained and measurements. A first color measurementcan have coordinates L₁* and a₁* and b_(1*), and a second colormeasurement can have coordinates L₂* and a₂* and b₂*. For example, at afirst observation angle the structural color is a first structural colorhaving coordinates L₁* and a₁* and b₁* and at a second observation anglethe structural color is a second structural color having coordinates L₂*and a₂* and b₂*. L₁* and L₂* values may be the same or different, a₁*and a₂* coordinate values may be the same or different, b₁* and b₂*coordinate values may be the same or different, and the ΔE*_(ab) betweenthe first color measurement and the second color measurement is lessthan or equal to about 100, whereΔE*_(ab)=[(L₁*−L₂*)²+(a₁*−a₂*)²+(b₁*−b₂*)]^(1/2).

A first color measurement at the first observation angle (e.g., theangle of incident light and/or the observation angle upon the opticalelement) can be obtained and has coordinates L₁* and a₁* and b_(1*),while a second color measurement at the second observation angle can beobtained and has coordinates L₂* and a₂* and b₂* can be obtained. If theΔE*_(ab) between the first color measurement and the second colormeasurement is greater than 3 or optionally greater than about 4 or 5,then one of the first structural color (associated with the first colormeasurement) and the second structural color (associated with the secondcolor measurement) is an achromatic structural color while the other isa chromatic structural color, where the two are perceptibly different toan average observer. The change from the achromatic structural color tothe chromatic structural color is dependent, at least in part, on theangle of incident light upon the optical element and/or is dependent onthe observation angle of the optical element. It is contemplated that achange in the structural color can be from a first chromatic structuralcolor to a second chromatic structural color or from a first achromaticstructural color to a second achromatic structural color, however thesetypes of changes would likely occur for smaller changes in theobservation angle than when there is a change from achromatic structuralcolor to chromatic structural color.

In instances where the ΔE*_(ab) between the first color measurement andthe second color measurement is less than or equal to about 2.2 or isless than or equal to about 3, the first structural color associatedwith the first color measurement and the second structural colorassociated with the second color measurement are the same or notperceptibly different to an average observer. In other words, thestructural color is independent of the angle of incident light upon theoptical element or is independent of observation angle of the opticalelement and a structural color shift does not occur between the anglesmeasured. In this instance, the difference between the first observationangle and the second observation angle was not enough for the shift fromachromatic to chromatic structural color (or vice versa) to be observed.

In an alternative approach, in situations where the percent differencebetween one or more of values L₁* and L₂*, a₁* and a₂*, and b₁* and b₂*is greater than 20 percent, then one of the first structural color(associated with the first color measurement) and the second structuralcolor (associated with the second color measurement) is an achromaticstructural color while the other is a chromatic structural color, wherethe two are perceptibly different to an average observer. In thisinstance the change from the achromatic structural color to thechromatic structural color is dependent on the observation angle of theoptical element. It is contemplated that a change in the structuralcolor can be from a first chromatic structural color to a secondchromatic structural color or from a first achromatic structural colorto a second achromatic structural color, however these types of changeswould likely occur and smaller changes in the observation angle thanwhen there is a change from achromatic structural color to chromaticstructural color.

If the percent difference between one or more of values L₁* and L_(2*),a₁* and a_(2*), and b₁* and b₂* is less than 20 percent, less than 10percent, or less than 5 percent, the first structural color associatedwith the first color measurement and the second structural colorassociated with the second color measurement are the same or notperceptibly different to an average observer. The structural color isindependent of the angle of incident light upon the optical element oris independent upon observation angle of the optical element and astructural color shift does not occur between the angles measured. Inthis instance, the difference between the first observation angle andthe second observation angle was not enough for the shift fromachromatic to chromatic structural color (or vice versa) to be observed.

The article includes the optical element including the one or morereflective layer(s), constituent layer(s), an optional textured surface,and, where the optical element is disposed on the surface of the articlewith the optional textured surface between the optical element and thesurface or where the textured surface is part of the optical element,depending upon the design. The optical element and the optional texturedsurface can impart the structural color to the article, where thestructural color can be designed to be different than the color of thecomponents of the optical element or the underlying material, optionallywith or without the application of pigments or dyes to the article. Inthis way, the structural color imparts an aesthetically appealingstructural color that can shift to the article without requiring the useof inks or pigments and the environmental impact associated with theiruse.

The article can be a finished article such as, for example, an articleof footwear, apparel or sporting equipment. The article can be acomponent of an article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment, suchas, for example, an upper or a sole for an article of footwear, awaistband or arm or hood of an article of apparel, a brim of a hat, aportion of a backpack, or a panel of a soccer ball, and the like. Forexample, the optical element can be disposed (e.g., affixed, attached,adhered, bonded, joined) on a surface of one or more components of thefootwear, such as on the shoe upper and/or the sole. The optical elementcan be incorporated into the sole by incorporating it into a cushioningelement such as a bladder or a foam. The sole and/or upper can bedesigned so that one or more portions of the structurally achromaticallycolored component are visible in the finished article, by including anopening, or a transparent component covering the structurallyachromatically colored component, and the like.

The present disclosure provides for an article comprising: an opticalelement on a surface of the article, wherein the optical element impartsan achromatic color and a chromatic color to the article. The achromaticcolor can have no hue or chroma and has a value of 0 to 10 according tothe Munsell color system, wherein the chromatic color has hue, chroma,or both hue and chroma. The achromatic color can be selected from black,white, or neutral gray and wherein the chromatic color can be ared/yellow/blue (RYB) primary color, a RYB secondary color, a RYBtertiary color, a RYB quaternary color, a RYB quinary color, or achromatic color that is a combination thereof.

The optical element, as disposed onto the article, as measured accordingto the CIE 1976 color space under a given illumination condition has acolor measurement that corresponds with the achromatic color, whereinthe first color measurement has coordinates L* and a* and b*, whereinboth of a* and b* are equal to 0.

The optical element, as disposed onto the article, as measured accordingto the CIE 1976 color space under a given illumination condition, has afirst color measurement that corresponds with the achromatic color,wherein the first color measurement has coordinates L* and a* and b*,wherein one or both of a* and b* are equal to about 0 or wherein when a*or b* or both a* and b* are not equal to 0 but a* and b* are closeenough to 0 that to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normalcolor vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article considersthe first color measurement achromatic color.

The optical element can include a textured surface having a plurality ofprofile features and flat planar areas, wherein the profile featuresextend above the flat areas of the textured surface, wherein the profilefeatures and the flat areas result in at least one layer of the opticalelement having an undulating topography across the textured surface,wherein the achromatic color, the chromatic color, or both areunaffected or substantially unaffected by the undulating topographyacross the textured surface as compared to a substantially identicaloptical element which is free of the textured surface.

The present disclosure provide for an article comprising: an opticalelement on a surface of the article, wherein the optical element impartsa first structural color and a second structural color at differentangles of observation, at different angles of incident light, or at bothdifferent angles of observation and different angles of incident light,wherein the first structural color is an achromatic color and the secondstructural color is a chromatic color. The achromatic color can beselected from black, white, or neutral gray. The achromatic color canhave no hue or chroma and has a value of 0 to 10 according to theMunsell color system.

The optical element imparts the first structural color to the articlefrom at a first angle of observation or a first angle of incident lightand imparts the second structural color to the article from a secondangle of observation or a second angle of incident light, wherein thefirst angle and the second angle are different by at least 15 degrees.

The achromatic color is black at the first angle of observation, whereinthe optical element reflects all wavelengths within the range of about380 to about 740 nanometers to substantially the same degree at thefirst angle of observation, wherein the observation angle is anobservation angle at which the achromatic color is visible to anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article. The percent reflectance ofthe optical element is about 2 percent or less at the first angle ofobservation for all of the wavelengths within the range of about 380 toabout 740 nanometers or wherein the percent absorbance of the opticalelement is about 98 percent or more at the first angle of observationfor all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740nanometers, wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.

The achromatic color is white, wherein the optical element absorbs allwavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers tosubstantially the same degree the first angle of observation, whereinthe observation angle is an observation angle at which the achromaticcolor is visible to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normalcolor vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article. Thepercent absorbance of the optical element is about 2 percent or less atthe first angle of observation for all wavelengths within the range ofabout 380 to about 740 nanometers or wherein the percent reflectance ofthe optical element is about 98 percent or more at the first angle ofobservation for all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about740 nanometers, wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.

The achromatic color is neutral gray, wherein the percent absorbance ofthe optical element is about 2 to 98 percent at the first angle ofobservation for all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about740 nanometers or wherein the percent reflectance of the optical elementis about 2 to 98 percent at the first angle of observation for allwavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers,wherein the observation angle is an observation angle at which theachromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visual acuityand normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.

The optical element, as disposed onto the article, when measuredaccording to the CIE 1976 color space under a given illuminationcondition at angle of observation, has a color measurement thatcorresponds with the first structural color, wherein the first colormeasurement has coordinates L₁* and a₁* and b_(1*), wherein both of a₁*and b₁* are equal to about 0 or wherein when a* or b* or both a* and b*are not equal to 0 but a* and b* are close enough to 0 that to anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article considers the firststructural color achromatic; and wherein the optical element, asdisposed onto the article, when measured according to the CIE 1976 colorspace under a given illumination condition at angle of observation, hasa color measurement that corresponds with the second structural color,wherein the second color measurement has coordinates L₂* and a₂* andb₂*, wherein at least one of a₂* or b₂* is greater than 0 or less than 0or optionally wherein when a* or b* or both a* and b* are not equal to 0but a* and b* are far enough from 0 that to an observer having 20/20visual acuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meterfrom the article considers the second structural color chromatic.

The optical element can include a textured surface having a plurality ofprofile features and flat planar areas, wherein the profile featuresextend above the flat areas of the textured surface, wherein the profilefeatures and the flat areas result in at least one layer of the opticalelement having an undulating topography across the textured surface,wherein the achromatic color at the first angle of observation isunaffected or substantially unaffected by the undulating topographyacross the textured surface as compared to a substantially identicaloptical element which is free of the textured surface and wherein thechromatic color at the second angle of observation is unaffected orsubstantially unaffected by the undulating topography across thetextured surface as compared to a substantially identical opticalelement which is free of the textured surface.

The optical element can include at least one layer, wherein at leastlayer is made of a material selected from metal, metal oxide, orstainless steel. The article can be a non-woven synthetic leather upperfor an article of footwear. The chromatic color can be blue, indigo,violet, or a chromatic color that is a combination thereof.

The present disclosure will be better understood upon reading thefollowing numbered features, which should not be confused with theclaims. Any of the numbered features below can, in some instances, becombined with features described elsewhere in this disclosure and suchcombinations are intended to form part of the disclosure and thesecombinations can be claimed.

Feature 1. An article comprising:

an optical element on a surface of the article, wherein the opticalelement imparts an achromatic color and a chromatic color to thearticle.

Feature 2. An article comprising:

an optical element on a surface of the article, wherein the opticalelement imparts a first structural color and a second structural colorat different angles of observation and/or different angles of incidentlight, wherein the first structural color is an achromatic color and thesecond structural color is a chromatic color.

Feature 3. An article comprising:

an optical element on a surface of the article, wherein the opticalelement imparts a first structural color to the article from at a firstangle of observation and/or a first angle of incident light and a secondstructural color to the article from a second angle of observationand/or a second angle of incident light, wherein the first structuralcolor is an achromatic color and the second structural color is achromatic color.

Feature 4. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the opticalelement, as disposed onto the article, when measured according to theCIE 1976 color space under a given illumination condition at angle ofobservation and/or an angle of incident light, has a color measurementthat corresponds with the second structural color, wherein the secondcolor measurement has coordinates L* and a* and b*, wherein at least oneof a* or b* is greater than 0 or less than 0 or optionally wherein whena* or b* or both a* and b* are not equal to 0, a* and b* are far enoughfrom 0 that to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal colorvision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article considers thesecond structural color chromatic.Feature 5. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the chromaticcolor is a red/yellow/blue (RYB) primary color, a RYB secondary color, aRYB tertiary color, a RYB quaternary color, a RYB quinary color, or achromatic color that is a combination thereof.Feature 6. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the chromaticcolor is red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, or a chromatic colorthat is a combination thereof.Feature 7. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the chromaticcolor is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, or achromatic color that is a combination thereof.Feature 8. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the chromaticcolor has hue and chroma.Feature 9. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the opticalelement, as disposed onto the article, as measured according to the CIE1976 color space under a given illumination condition at angle ofobservation and/or an angle of incident light, has a color measurementthat corresponds with the first structural color, wherein the firstcolor measurement has coordinates L* and a* and b*, wherein both of a*and b* are equal to 0.Feature 10. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the opticalelement, as disposed onto the article, as measured according to the CIE1976 color space under a given illumination condition at angle ofobservation and/or an angle of incident light, has a color measurementthat corresponds with the first structural color, wherein the firstcolor measurement has coordinates L* and a* and b*, wherein one or bothof a* and b* are equal to about 0 or equal to 0, wherein when a* or b*or both a* and b* are not equal to 0, a* and b* are close enough to 0that to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color visionfrom a distance of about 1 meter from the article considers the firststructural color achromatic.Feature 11. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the opticalelement absorbs all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about740 nanometers to substantially the same degree (optionally whereinsubstantially the same degree is plus or minus about 5 percent, plus orminus about 10 percent, plus or minus about 15 percent) when viewed froman observation angle at which the structural color is the firststructural color, optionally wherein the observation angle is anobservation angle at which the first structural color is visible to anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article.Feature 12. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the opticalelement reflects all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about740 nanometers to substantially the same degree (optionally whereinsubstantially the same degree is plus or minus about 5 percent, plus orminus about 10 percent, plus or minus about 15 percent) when viewed froman observation angle at which the structural color is the firststructural color, optionally wherein the observation angle is anobservation angle at which the first structural color is visible to anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article.Feature 13. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the achromaticcolor is selected from black, white, or neutral gray.Feature 14. The article of feature 13, wherein the achromatic color isblack, optionally wherein the optical element reflects all wavelengthswithin the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers to substantiallythe same degree when viewed from an observation angle at which theachromatic color is visible, optionally wherein the observation angle isan observation angle at which the achromatic color is visible to anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article Feature 15. The article offeature 14, wherein the percent reflectance of the optical element isabout 2 percent or less, about 1 percent or less, about 0.5 percent orless, about 0.1 percent or less, or 0 percent, for all of thewavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers.Feature 16. The article of feature 13, wherein the achromatic color isblack, optionally wherein the percent absorbance of the optical elementis about 98 percent or more, about 99 percent or more, about 99.5percent or more, about 99.9 percent or more, or 100 percent, for allwavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers whenviewed from an observation angle at which the achromatic color isvisible, optionally wherein the observation angle is an observationangle at which the achromatic color is visible to an observer having20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1meter from the article.Feature 17. The article of feature 13, wherein the achromatic color iswhite, optionally wherein the optical element absorbs all wavelengthswithin the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers to substantiallythe same degree when viewed from an observation angle at which theachromatic color is visible, optionally wherein the observation angle isan observation angle at which the achromatic color is visible to anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article Feature 18. The article offeature 17, wherein the percent absorbance of the optical element isabout 2 percent or less, about 1 percent or less, about 0.5 percent orless, about 0.1 percent or less, or about 0 percent, for all wavelengthswithin the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers.Feature 19. The article of feature 13, wherein the achromatic color iswhite, optionally wherein the percent reflectance of the optical elementis about 98 percent or more, about 99 percent or more, about 99.5percent or more, about 99.9 percent or more, or 100 percent, for allwavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers whenviewed from an observation angle at which the achromatic color isvisible, optionally wherein the observation angle is an observationangle at which the achromatic color is visible to a observer having20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1meter from the article.Feature 20. The article of feature 13, wherein the achromatic color isneutral gray, optionally wherein the percent absorbance of the opticalelement is about 2 to 98 percent, about 1 to 99 percent, about 0.5 toabout 99.5 percent, or about 0.1 to about 99.9, for all wavelengthswithin the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers when viewed froman observation angle at which the achromatic color is visible,optionally wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.Feature 21. The article of feature 132, wherein the achromatic color isneutral gray, optionally wherein the percent reflectance of the opticalelement is about 2 to 98 percent, about 1 to 99 percent, about 0.5 toabout 99.5 percent, or about 0.1 to about 99.9, for all wavelengthswithin the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers when viewed froman observation angle at which the achromatic color is visible,optionally wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to a observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.Feature 22. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the achromaticcolor has no hue or chroma and has a value of 0 to 10 according to theMunsell color system.Feature 23. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the opticalelement, as disposed onto the article, when measured according to theCIE 1976 color space under a given illumination condition at angle ofobservation and/or an angle of incident light, has a color measurementthat corresponds with the first structural color, wherein the firstcolor measurement has coordinates L₁* and a₁* and b_(1*), wherein bothof a₁* and b₁* are equal to about 0 or equal to 0, wherein when a* or b*or both a* and b* are not equal to 0, a* and b* are close enough to 0that to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color visionfrom a distance of about 1 meter from the article considers the firststructural color achromatic;

wherein the optical element, as disposed onto the article, when measuredaccording to the CIE 1976 color space under a given illuminationcondition at angle of observation and/or an angle of incident light, hasa color measurement that corresponds with the second structural color,wherein the second color measurement has coordinates L₂* and a₂* andb₂*, wherein at least one of a₂* or b₂* is greater than 0 or less than 0or optionally wherein when a* or b* or both a* and b* are not equal to0, a* and b* are far enough from 0 that to an observer having 20/20visual acuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meterfrom the article considers the second structural color chromatic.

Feature 24. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the opticalelement, as disposed onto the article, when measured according to theCIE 1976 color space under a given illumination condition at twoobservation angles which are at least 15 degrees apart from each other,has the first structural color and the second structural color, whereinthe optical element has a first color measurement at the firstobservation angle having coordinates L₁* and a₁* and b₁* over thewavelength range of about 380 to 740 nanometers and a second colormeasurement at the second observation angle having coordinates L₂* anda₂* and b₂* over the wavelength range of about 380 to 740 nanometers,wherein both of a₁* and b₁* are equal to 0, wherein the first colormeasurement corresponds to the first structural color and the secondcolor measurement corresponds to the second structural color, wherein atleast one of a₁* and a₂* coordinate values are different, b₁* and b₂*coordinate values are different, or both a₁* and a₂* coordinate valuesare different and b₁* and b₂* coordinate values are different, whereinΔE*_(ab)=[(L₁*−L₂*)²+(a₁*−a₂*)²+(b₁*−b₂*)²]^(1/2), and wherein theΔE*_(ab) between the first color measurement and the second colormeasurement is greater than 3, or optionally wherein the ΔE*_(ab)between the first color measurement and the second color measurement ismore than or equal to about 4 or 5, or 10.Feature 25. The article of any preceding feature, wherein the opticalelement, as disposed onto the article, when measured according to theCIE 1976 color space under a given illumination condition at twoobservation angles which are at least 15 degrees apart from each other,has the first structural color and the second structural color, whereinthe optical element has a first color measurement at the firstobservation angle having coordinates L₁* and a₁* and b₁* over thewavelength range of 380 to 740 nanometers and a second color measurementat the second observation angle having coordinates L₂* and a₂* and b₂*over the wavelength range of 380 to 740 nanometers, wherein both of a₁*and b₁* are equal to 0, wherein the first color measurement correspondsto the first structural color and the second color measurementcorresponds to the second structural color, wherein at least one of a₁*and a₂* coordinate values are different, b₁* and b₂* coordinate valuesare different, or both a₁* and a₂* coordinate values and b₁* and b₂*coordinate values are different, wherein the percent difference betweenone or more of values a₁* and a₂* or b₁* and b₂* is greater than 20percent (optionally, greater than 25 percent, greater than 30 percent,greater than 35 percent).Feature 26. A method, comprising:

disposing an optical element on a surface of an article according to anyone of features 1 to 25.

Feature 27. The method of feature 26, wherein disposing the opticalelement comprises forming the optical element on the surface of thearticle.Feature 28. The method of any one of the preceding features, whereindisposing the optical element comprises forming the optical element on asurface of a component, and then disposing the component with theoptical element on a surface of the article; optionally wherein thecomponent is a film, or a textile, or a molded component.Feature 29. The method of any one of the preceding features, whereinforming the optical element comprises using: physical vapor deposition,electron beam deposition, atomic layer deposition, molecular beamepitaxy, cathodic arc deposition, pulsed laser deposition, sputtering,chemical vapor deposition, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition,low pressure chemical vapor deposition, wet chemistry techniques, or acombination thereof.Feature 30. The method of any one of the preceding features, whereindisposing the optical element comprises depositing the at least onereflective layer and the at least two constituent layers of the opticalelement using a deposition process, wherein the method optionallyincludes depositing a first reflective layer comprising a metal,depositing a first constituent layer comprising a metal oxide on thefirst reflective layer, and depositing a second constituent layercomprising a metal oxide on the first reflective layer.Feature 31. An article comprising: a product of the method of any one ofthe preceding method features.Feature 32. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the optical element is disposed on anexternally-facing side of the article.Feature 33. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the article comprises a polymer material.Feature 34. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the optical element is disposed on the polymermaterial.Feature 35. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the optical element is a single-layer reflector, amultilayer reflector, a single-layer filter, or a multilayer filter.Feature 36. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the multilayer reflector has at least two constituentlayers and the at least one reflector layer.Feature 37. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the at least two constituent layers adjacent to thebase reflective layer have different refractive indices, optionallywherein each constituent layer of the multilayer reflector has athickness of about one quarter of the wavelength of the wavelength to bereflected.Feature 38. The article and/or method of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the optical element includes a textured surface havinga plurality of profile features and flat planar areas, wherein theprofile features extend above the flat areas of the textured surface,wherein the profile features and the flat areas result in at least onelayer of the optical element having an undulating topography across thetextured surface, wherein the achromatic color at the first angle ofobservation is unaffected or substantially unaffected by the undulatingtopography across the textured surface as compared to a substantiallyidentical optical element which is free of the textured surface andwherein the chromatic color at the second angle of observation isunaffected or substantially unaffected by the undulating topographyacross the textured surface as compared to a substantially identicaloptical element which is free of the textured surface.Feature 39. The article and/or method of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the optical element is an optical element, an organicoptical element, or a mixed/organic optical element.Feature 40. The article and/or method of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the organic optical element has at least one layerthat is made of an organic material, optionally wherein the at least onelayer is made of a non-metal or non-metal oxide material, optionally,wherein at least one layer is made of a polymeric material (optionally asynthetic polymeric material), optionally wherein the at least one layeris made an organic material that does not include a metal or metaloxide, optionally wherein the at least one layer is made of a polymeric(optionally a synthetic polymeric material) that does not include ametal or metal oxide.Feature 41. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the at least one reflective layer is made of amaterial selected from a metal or a metal oxide.Feature 42. The methods and/or articles of any one of the features,wherein the at least one reflective layer is made of a metal.Feature 43. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein adjacent constituent layers have different refractiveindices.Feature 44. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the each constituent layer of the multilayer reflectorhas a thickness of about one quarter of the wavelength of the wavelengthto be reflected.Feature 45. The methods and/or articles of any of the precedingfeatures, wherein the optical element has a thickness of about 100 toabout 700 nanometers, or of about 200 to about 500 nanometers,optionally wherein the optical element has an area of about 1 centimetersquared to 20 centimeter squared, about 1 centimeter squared to 50centimeter squared, about 1 centimeter squared to 100 centimeter squared(optionally or more), about 5 centimeter squared to 50 centimetersquared, about 5 centimeter squared to 30 centimeter squared, about 5centimeter squared to 20 centimeter squared, about 3 centimeter squaredto 20 centimeter squared, about 3 centimeter squared to 15 centimetersquared, about 3 centimeter squared to 30 centimeter squared, about 10centimeter squared to 100 centimeter squared, about 10 centimetersquared to 70 centimeter squared, about 10 centimeter squared to 50centimeter squared, about 10 centimeter squared to 30 centimetersquared, as well as any ranges in increments of 1 cm in each rangeprovided above and herein.Feature 46. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the at least one reflector layer is made of a materialselected from metal or metal oxide.Feature 47. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of:titanium, aluminum, silver, zirconium, chromium, magnesium, silicon,gold, platinum, and a combination thereof.Feature 48. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, the base reflective layer has a thickness of at least 10nanometers (optionally at least 30 nanometers, optionally at least 40nanometers, optionally at least 50 nanometers, optionally at least 60nanometers, optionally a thickness of from about 10 nanometers to about100 nanometers, or of from about 30 nanometers to about 80 nanometers,or from about 40 nanometers to about 60 nanometers).Feature 49. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the constituent layer is made of a material selectedfrom the group consisting of: silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, zincsulphide, magnesium fluoride, tantalum pentoxide, and a combinationthereof.Feature 50. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the at least one reflective layer comprises a titaniumlayer, wherein the first constituent layer comprises a titanium dioxidelayer, or a silicon layer, and wherein the second constituent layercomprises a titanium dioxide layer or a silicon dioxide layer.Feature 51. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the first surface of the article includes or is atextile; optionally wherein the textile is a woven, crochet, braided,knit or nonwoven textile; and optionally wherein the textile has a meshstructure.Feature 52. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the article includes or is a fiber.Feature 53. The methods and/or methods and/or articles of any one of thepreceding features, wherein the article is a yarn, optionally whereinthe yarn is a monofilament yarn.Feature 54. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the article is a film.Feature 55. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the article is an article of footwear, a component offootwear, an article of apparel, a component of apparel, an article ofsporting equipment, or a component of sporting equipment.Feature 56. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the article is an article of footwear.Feature 57. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the article is a sole component of an article offootwear, wherein the optical element is disposed on the sole component.Feature 58. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the sole component includes a foam, wherein theoptical element is disposed on the foam.Feature 59. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the sole component includes a solid polymeric moldedcomponent, wherein the optical element is disposed on the solidpolymeric molded component.Feature 60. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the article is an upper component of an article offootwear, wherein the optical element is disposed on the uppercomponent.Feature 61. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the article is a knit upper component of an article offootwear.Feature 62. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the article is a non-woven synthetic leather upper foran article of footwear.Feature 63. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the article is a bladder including a volume of afluid, wherein the bladder has a first bladder wall having a firstbladder wall thickness, wherein the first bladder wall has a gastransmission rate of 15 cm³/m²·atm·day or less for nitrogen for anaverage wall thickness of 20 mils.Feature 64. The methods and/or articles of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the article is a bladder, and the optical element isoptionally on an inside surface of the bladder or optionally the opticalelement is on an outside surface of the bladder.Feature 65. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein the profile feature has at least one dimension greater than 500micrometers and optionally greater than about 600 micrometers.Feature 66. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein at least one of the length and width of the profile feature isgreater than 500 micrometers or optionally both the length and the widthof the profile feature is greater than 500 micrometers.Feature 67. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein the height of the profile features can be greater than 50micrometers or optionally greater than about 60 micrometers.Feature 68. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein at least one of the length and width of the profile feature isless than 500 micrometers or both the length and the width of theprofile feature is less than 500 micrometers, while the height isgreater than 50 micrometers.Feature 69. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein at least one of the length and width of the profile feature isgreater than 500 micrometers or both the length and the width of theprofile feature is greater than 500 micrometers, while the height isgreater than 50 micrometers.Feature 70. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein at least one of the dimensions of the profile feature is in thenanometer range, while at least one other dimension is in the micrometerrange.Feature 71. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein the nanometer range is about 10 nanometers to about 1000nanometers, while the micrometer range is about 5 micrometers to 500micrometers.Feature 72. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein at least one of the length and width of the profile feature isin the nanometer range, while the other of the length and the width ofthe profile feature is in the micrometer range.Feature 73. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein height of the profile features is greater than 250 nanometers.Feature 74. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein at least one of the length and width of the profile feature isin the nanometer range and the other in the micrometer range, where theheight is greater than 250 nanometers.Feature 75. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein spatial orientation of the profile features is periodic.Feature 76. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein spatial orientation of the profile features is a semi-randompattern or a set pattern.Feature 77. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein the surface of the layers of the optical element are asubstantially three dimensional flat planar surface or a threedimensional flat planar surface.Feature 78. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereinthe structural color is dependent upon the angle of incident light uponthe optical element, the observation angle of the optical element, orboth.Feature 79. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereinthe color is different at two or more angles of incident light upon theoptical element, different at two or more observation angles of theoptical element, or both.Feature 80. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein the structural color is not affected by the presence of thetextured surface.Feature 81. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein the structural color is affected by less than 20 percent by thepresence of the textured surface.Feature 82. The article and/or method of any of the preceding features,wherein the structural color is due solely to the optical elementconsisting of the one or more constituent layers, optionally one or morereflective layers, or both one or more constituent layers and one ormore reflective layers.Feature 83. The article of any one of the preceding features, wherein alayer of the optical element further comprises a textured surface.Feature 84. The article of feature 83, wherein a layer of the opticalelement further comprises a textured surface, wherein the opticalelement is on the textured surface, and a hue of the second structuralcolor, an intensity of the second structural color, a viewing angle atwhich the second structural color is visible, or any combinationthereof, is altered by the textured surface, as determined by comparingthe optical element comprising the textured surface of a substantiallyidentical optical element which is free of the textured surface.Feature 85. The article of feature 83, wherein a layer of the opticalelement further comprises a textured surface, wherein the opticalelement is on the textured surface, wherein the textured surface reducesor eliminates shift of the first structural color to the secondstructural color as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angleto a second viewing angle, as compared to a substantially identicaloptical element which is free of the textured surface.Feature 86. The article of feature 83, wherein a layer of the opticalelement further comprises a textured surface, wherein the opticalelement is on the textured surface, wherein the textured surface reducesor eliminates shift of the first structural color as a viewing angle isvaried from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, as comparedto a substantially identical optical element which is free of thetextured surface.Feature 87. The article of feature 83, wherein a layer of the opticalelement further comprises a textured surface, wherein the opticalelement is on the textured surface, and a hue of the second structuralcolor, an intensity of the second structural color, a viewing angle atwhich the second structural color is visible, or any combinationthereof, is unaffected by or substantially unaffected by the texturedsurface, as determined by comparing the optical element comprising thetextured surface to a substantially identical optical element which isfree of the textured surface.Feature 88. The article of feature 83, wherein a layer of the opticalelement further comprises a textured surface, wherein the opticalelement is on the textured surface, wherein shift of the firststructural color to the second structural color is unaltered by orsubstantially the same as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewingangle to a second viewing angle, as compared to a substantiallyidentical optical element which is free of the textured surface.Feature 89. The article of feature 83, wherein a layer of the opticalelement further comprises a textured surface, wherein the opticalelement is on the textured surface, wherein shift of the secondstructural color is unaltered by or substantially the same as a viewingangle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, ascompared to a substantially identical optical element which is free ofthe textured surface.Feature 90. The article of any one of the preceding features, whereinthe surface of the article is a textured surface, wherein the opticalelement is on the textured surface.Feature 91. The article of feature 90, wherein the surface of thearticle is a textured surface, wherein the optical element is on thetextured surface, and a hue of the second structural color, an intensityof the second structural color, a viewing angle at which the secondstructural color is visible, or any combination thereof, is altered bythe textured surface, as determined by comparing the optical elementcomprising the textured surface of a substantially identical opticalelement on a surface of a substantially identical article which is freeof the textured surface.Feature 92. The article of feature 90, wherein the surface of thearticle is a textured surface, wherein the optical element is on thetextured surface, wherein the textured surface reduces or eliminatesshift of the first structural color to the second structural color as aviewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, as compared to a substantially identical optical element on asurface of a substantially identical article which is free of thetexture.Feature 93. The article of feature 90, wherein the surface of thearticle is a textured surface, wherein the optical element is on thetextured surface, wherein the textured surface reduces or eliminatesshift of the second structural color as a viewing angle is varied from afirst viewing angle to a second viewing angle, as compared to asubstantially identical optical element on a surface of a substantiallyidentical article which is free of the texture.Feature 94. The article of feature 90, wherein the surface of thearticle is a textured surface, wherein the optical element is on thetextured surface, and a hue of the second structural color, an intensityof the second structural color, a viewing angle at which the secondstructural color is visible, or any combination thereof, is unaffectedby or substantially unaffected by the textured surface, as determined bycomparing the optical element comprising the textured surface to asubstantially identical optical element on a surface of a substantiallyidentical article which is free of the textured surface.Feature 95. The article of feature 90, wherein the surface of thearticle is a textured surface, wherein the optical element is on thetextured surface, wherein shift of the first structural color to thesecond structural color is unaltered by or substantially the same as aviewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, as compared to a substantially identical optical element on asurface of a substantially identical article which is free of thetextured surface.Feature 96. The article of feature 90, wherein the surface of thearticle is a textured surface, wherein the optical element is on thetextured surface, wherein shift of the second structural color isunaltered by or substantially the same as a viewing angle is varied froma first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, as compared to asubstantially identical optical element on a surface of a substantiallyidentical article which is free of the textured surface.Feature 97. The article of any one of the preceding features, whereinthe textured surface includes a plurality of profile features and flatplanar areas, wherein the profile features extend above the flat areasof the textured surface.Feature 98. The article feature 97, wherein dimensions of the profilefeatures, a shape of the profile features, a spacing among the pluralityof the profile features, or any combination thereof, in combination withthe optical element, affect a hue of the first structural color, a hueof the second structural color, an intensity of the first structuralcolor, an intensity of the second structural color, a viewing angle atwhich the first structural color is visible, a viewing angle at whichthe second structural color is visible, shift of the first structuralcolor to the second structural color as a viewing angle is varied from afirst viewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combinationthereof.Feature 99. The article feature 97, wherein dimensions of the profilefeatures, a shape of the profile features, a spacing among the pluralityof the profile features, or any combination thereof, in combination withthe optical element, affect a hue of the second structural color, anintensity of the second structural color, a viewing angle at which thesecond structural color is visible, shift of the second structural coloras a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a secondviewing angle, or any combination thereof.Feature 100. The article of feature 97, wherein a hue of the firststructural color, a hue of the second structural color, an intensity ofthe first structural color, an intensity of the second structural color,a viewing angle at which the first structural color is visible, aviewing angle at which the second structural color is visible, shift ofthe first structural color to the second structural color as a viewingangle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, orany combination thereof, are unaffected or substantially unaffected bydimensions of the profile features, a shape of the profile features, aspacing among the plurality of the profile features, or any combinationthereof, of the textured surface.Feature 101. The article of feature 97, wherein a hue of the secondstructural color, an intensity of the second structural color, a viewingangle at which the second structural color is visible, shift of thesecond structural color as a viewing angle is varied from a firstviewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof, areunaffected or substantially unaffected by dimensions of the profilefeatures, a shape of the profile features, a spacing among the pluralityof the profile features, or any combination thereof, of the texturedsurface.Feature 102. The article of feature 97, wherein the profile features ofthe textured surface are in random positions relative to one anotherwithin a specific area and/or wherein spacing among the profile featuresis random within a specific area.Feature 103. The article of feature 102, wherein spacing between theprofile features, in combination with the optical element, affects a hueof the first structural color, a hue of the second structural color, anintensity of the first structural color, an intensity of the secondstructural color, a viewing angle at which the first structural color isvisible, a viewing angle at which the second structural color isvisible, shift of the first structural color to the second structuralcolor as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to asecond viewing angle, or any combination thereof.Feature 104. The article of feature 102, wherein spacing between theprofile features, in combination with the optical element, affects a hueof the second structural color, an intensity of the second structuralcolor, a viewing angle at which the second structural color is visible,shift of the second structural color as a viewing angle is varied from afirst viewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combinationthereof.Feature 105. The article of feature 102, wherein a hue of the firststructural color, a hue of the second structural color, an intensity ofthe first structural color, an intensity of the second structural color,a viewing angle at which the first structural color is visible, aviewing angle at which the second structural color is visible, shift ofthe first structural color to the second structural color as a viewingangle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, orany combination thereof, is unaffected by, or substantially unaffectedby, spacing between the profile features in combination with the opticalelement.Feature 106. The article of feature 102, wherein a hue of the secondstructural color, an intensity of the second structural color, a viewingangle at which the second structural color is visible, shift of thesecond structural color as a viewing angle is varied from a firstviewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof, isunaffected by, or substantially unaffected by, spacing between theprofile features in combination with the optical element.Feature 107. The article of any one of the preceding features, whereinthe profile features and the flat areas result in at least one layer ofthe optical element having an undulating topography across the texturedsurface, and wherein there is a planar region between neighboringprofile features that is planar with the flat planar areas of thetextured surface.Feature 108. The article of feature 107, wherein dimensions of theplanar region relative to the profile features affect a hue of the firststructural color, a hue of the second structural color, an intensity ofthe first structural color, an intensity of the second structural color,a viewing angle at which the first structural color is visible, aviewing angle at which the second structural color is visible, shift ofthe first structural color to the second structural color as a viewingangle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, orany combination thereof.Feature 109. The article of feature 107, wherein dimensions of theplanar region relative to the profile features affect a hue of thesecond structural color, an intensity of the second structural color, aviewing angle at which the second structural color is visible, shift ofthe first structural color to the second structural color as a viewingangle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, orany combination thereof.Feature 110. The article of feature 107, wherein a hue of the secondstructural color, an intensity of the second structural color, a viewingangle at which the second structural color is visible, shift of thesecond structural color as a viewing angle is varied from a firstviewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof, isunaffected by or substantially unaffected by dimensions of the planarregion relative to the profile features.Feature 111. The article of any one of the preceding feature, whereinthe profile features and the flat areas result in each layer of theoptical element having an undulating topography across the texturedsurface.Feature 112. The article of feature 111, wherein the undulatingtopography of the optical element affects a hue of the first structuralcolor, a hue of the second structural color, an intensity of the firststructural color, an intensity of the second structural color, a viewingangle at which the first structural color is visible, a viewing angle atwhich the second structural color is visible, shift of the firststructural color to the second structural color as a viewing angle isvaried from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, or anycombination thereof.Feature 113. The article of feature 111, wherein the undulatingtopography of the optical element affects a hue of the second structuralcolor, an intensity of the second structural color, a viewing angle atwhich the second structural color is visible, shift of the secondstructural color as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angleto a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof.Feature 114. The article of feature 111, wherein a hue of the firststructural color, a hue of the second structural color, an intensity ofthe first structural color, an intensity of the second structural color,a viewing angle at which the first structural color is visible, aviewing angle at which the second structural color is visible, shift ofthe first structural color to the second structural color as a viewingangle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, orany combination thereof, is unaffected by or substantially unaffected bythe undulating topography of the optical element.Feature 115. The article of feature 111, wherein a hue of the secondstructural color, an intensity of the second structural color, a viewingangle at which the second structural color is visible, shift of thesecond structural color as a viewing angle is varied from a firstviewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof, isunaffected by or substantially unaffected by the undulating topographyof the optical element.Feature 116. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereina layer of the optical element further comprises a textured surface,wherein the optical element is on the textured surface, and a lightness(e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB) of the achromaticstructural color is altered by the textured surface, as determined bycomparing the optical element comprising the textured surface of asubstantially identical optical element which is free of the texturedsurface.Feature 117. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereina layer of the optical element further comprises a textured surface,wherein the optical element is on the textured surface, wherein thetextured surface reduces or eliminates shift of the achromaticstructural color as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angleto a second viewing angle, as compared to a substantially identicaloptical element which is free of the textured surface.Feature 118. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereina layer of the optical element further comprises a textured surface,wherein the optical element is on the textured surface, and a lightness(e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB) (optionally a hue and/or achroma) is unaffected by or substantially unaffected by the texturedsurface, as determined by comparing the optical element comprising thetextured surface to a substantially identical optical element which isfree of the textured surface.Feature 119. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereina layer of the optical element further comprises a textured surface,wherein the optical element is on the textured surface, wherein shift ofthe achromatic structural color is unaltered by or substantially thesame as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a secondviewing angle, as compared to a substantially identical optical elementwhich is free of the textured surface.Feature 120. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereinthe surface of the article is a textured surface, wherein the opticalelement is on the textured surface, and a lightness (e.g., L* of CIE1976 color space or CIELAB), is altered by the textured surface, asdetermined by comparing the optical element comprising the texturedsurface of a substantially identical optical element on a surface of asubstantially identical article which is free of the textured surface.Feature 121. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereinthe surface of the article is a textured surface, wherein the opticalelement is on the textured surface, wherein the textured surface reducesor eliminates shift of the achromatic structural color as a viewingangle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, ascompared to a substantially identical optical element on a surface of asubstantially identical article which is free of the texture.Feature 122. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereinthe surface of the article is a textured surface, wherein the opticalelement is on the textured surface, and a lightness (e.g., L* of CIE1976 color space or CIELAB) (optionally a hue and/or a chroma) isunaffected by or substantially unaffected by the textured surface, asdetermined by comparing the optical element comprising the texturedsurface to a substantially identical optical element on a surface of asubstantially identical article which is free of the textured surface.Feature 123. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereinthe surface of the article is a textured surface, wherein the opticalelement is on the textured surface, wherein shift of the achromaticstructural color is unaltered by or substantially the same as a viewingangle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, ascompared to a substantially identical optical element on a surface of asubstantially identical article which is free of the textured surface.Feature 124. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereindimensions of the profile features, a shape of the profile features, aspacing among the plurality of the profile features, or any combinationthereof, in combination with the optical element, affect a lightness(e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB), a shift of the achromaticstructural color as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angleto a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof.Feature 125. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereina lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB) (optionally ahue and/or a chroma), a shift of the structural color as a viewing angleis varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, or anycombination thereof, are unaffected or substantially unaffected bydimensions of the profile features, a shape of the profile features, aspacing among the plurality of the profile features, or any combinationthereof, of the textured surface.Feature 126. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereinthe profile features of the textured surface are in random positionsrelative to one another within a specific area.Feature 127. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereinspacing among the profile features is random within a specific area.Feature 128. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereinspacing between the profile features, in combination with the opticalelement, affects a lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space orCIELAB), a shift of the achromatic structural color as a viewing angleis varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, or anycombination thereof.Feature 129. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereina lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB) (optionally ahue and/or a chroma), a shift of the achromatic structural color as aviewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, or any combination thereof, is unaffected by, or substantiallyunaffected by, spacing between the profile features in combination withthe optical element.Feature 130. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereinthe profile features and the flat areas result in at least one layer ofthe optical element having an undulating topography across the texturedsurface, and wherein there is a planar region between neighboringprofile features that is planar with the flat planar areas of thetextured surface.Feature 131. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereindimensions of the planar region relative to the profile features affecta lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB), a shift of theachromatic structural color as a viewing angle is varied from a firstviewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof.Feature 132. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereina lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB) (optionally ahue and/or a chroma), a shift of the achromatic structural color as aviewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, or any combination thereof, is unaffected by or substantiallyunaffected by dimensions of the planar region relative to the profilefeatures.Feature 133. The article and/or method of any one of the precedingfeatures, wherein the profile features and the flat areas result in eachlayer of the optical element having an undulating topography across thetextured surface.Feature 134. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereinthe undulating topography of the optical element affects a lightness(e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB), a shift of the achromaticstructural color as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angleto a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof.Feature 135. The article and/or method of any preceding feature, whereina lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB) (optionally ahue and/or a chroma), a shift of the achromatic structural color as aviewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, or any combination thereof, is unaffected by or substantiallyunaffected by the undulating topography of the optical element.Feature 1A. An article comprising:

an optical element on a surface of the article, wherein the opticalelement imparts an achromatic color and a chromatic color to thearticle.

Feature 2A. The article of feature 1A, wherein the achromatic color hasno hue or chroma and has a value of 0 to 10 according to the Munsellcolor system, wherein the chromatic color has hue, chroma, or both hueand chroma.Feature 3A. The article of feature 1A, wherein the achromatic color isselected from black, white, or neutral gray and wherein the chromaticcolor is a red/yellow/blue (RYB) primary color, a RYB secondary color, aRYB tertiary color, a RYB quaternary color, a RYB quinary color, or achromatic color that is a combination thereof.Feature 4A. The article of feature 1A, wherein the optical element, asdisposed onto the article, as measured according to the CIE 1976 colorspace under a given illumination condition has a color measurement thatcorresponds with the achromatic color, wherein the first colormeasurement has coordinates L* and a* and b*, wherein both of a* and b*are equal to 0.Feature 5A. The article of feature 1A, wherein the optical element, asdisposed onto the article, as measured according to the CIE 1976 colorspace under a given illumination condition, has a first colormeasurement that corresponds with the achromatic color, wherein thefirst color measurement has coordinates L* and a* and b*, wherein one orboth of a* and b* are equal to about 0 or wherein when a* or b* or botha* and b* are not equal to 0 but a* and b* are close enough to 0 that toan observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article considers the first colormeasurement achromatic color.Feature 6A. The article of feature 1A, wherein the optical elementincludes a textured surface having a plurality of profile features andflat planar areas, wherein the profile features extend above the flatareas of the textured surface, wherein the profile features and the flatareas result in at least one layer of the optical element having anundulating topography across the textured surface, wherein theachromatic color, the chromatic color, or both are unaffected orsubstantially unaffected by the undulating topography across thetextured surface as compared to a substantially identical opticalelement which is free of the textured surface.Feature 7A. An article comprising: an optical element on a surface ofthe article, wherein the optical element imparts a first structuralcolor and a second structural color at different angles of observation,at different angles of incident light, or at both different angles ofobservation and different angles of incident light, wherein the firststructural color is an achromatic color and the second structural coloris a chromatic color.Feature 8A. The article of feature 7A, wherein the achromatic color isselected from black, white, or neutral gray.Feature 9A. The article of feature 7A, wherein the achromatic color hasno hue or chroma and has a value of 0 to 10 according to the Munsellcolor system.Feature 10A. The article of feature 7A, wherein the optical elementimparts the first structural color to the article from a first angle ofobservation or a first angle of incident light and imparts the secondstructural color to the article from a second angle of observation or asecond angle of incident light, wherein the first angle and the secondangle are different by at least 15 degrees.Feature 11A. The article of feature 8A, wherein the achromatic color isblack at the first angle of observation, wherein the optical elementreflects all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740nanometers to substantially the same degree at the first angle ofobservation, wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.Feature 12A. The article of feature 11A, wherein the percent reflectanceof the optical element is about 2 percent or less at the first angle ofobservation for all of the wavelengths within the range of about 380 toabout 740 nanometers or wherein the percent absorbance of the opticalelement is about 98 percent or more at the first angle of observationfor all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740nanometers, wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.Feature 13A. The article of feature 8A, wherein the achromatic color iswhite, wherein the optical element absorbs all wavelengths within therange of about 380 to about 740 nanometers to substantially the samedegree the first angle of observation, wherein the observation angle isan observation angle at which the achromatic color is visible to anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article.Feature 14A. The article of feature 13A, wherein the percent absorbanceof the optical element is about 2 percent or less at the first angle ofobservation for all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about740 nanometers or wherein the percent reflectance of the optical elementis about 98 percent or more at the first angle of observation for allwavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers,wherein the observation angle is an observation angle at which theachromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visual acuityand normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.Feature 15A. The article of feature 8A, wherein the achromatic color isneutral gray, wherein the percent absorbance of the optical element isabout 2 to 98 percent at the first angle of observation for allwavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers orwherein the percent reflectance of the optical element is about 2 to 98percent at the first angle of observation for all wavelengths within therange of about 380 to about 740 nanometers, wherein the observationangle is an observation angle at which the achromatic color is visibleto an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article.Feature 16A. The article of feature 10A, wherein the optical element, asdisposed onto the article, when measured according to the CIE 1976 colorspace under a given illumination condition at angle of observation, hasa color measurement that corresponds with the first structural color,wherein the first color measurement has coordinates L₁* and a₁* andb_(1*), wherein both of a₁* and b₁* are equal to about 0 or wherein whena* or b* or both a* and b* are not equal to 0 but a* and b* are closeenough to 0 that to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normalcolor vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article considersthe first structural color achromatic;

wherein the optical element, as disposed onto the article, when measuredaccording to the CIE 1976 color space under a given illuminationcondition at angle of observation, has a color measurement thatcorresponds with the second structural color, wherein the second colormeasurement has coordinates L₂* and a₂* and b₂*, wherein at least one ofa₂* or b₂* is greater than 0 or less than 0 or optionally wherein whena* or b* or both a* and b* are not equal to 0 but a* and b* are farenough from 0 that to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normalcolor vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article considersthe second structural color chromatic.

Feature 17A. The article feature 10A, wherein the optical elementincludes a textured surface having a plurality of profile features andflat planar areas, wherein the profile features extend above the flatareas of the textured surface, wherein the profile features and the flatareas result in at least one layer of the optical element having anundulating topography across the textured surface, wherein theachromatic color at the first angle of observation is unaffected orsubstantially unaffected by the undulating topography across thetextured surface as compared to a substantially identical opticalelement which is free of the textured surface and wherein the chromaticcolor at the second angle of observation is unaffected or substantiallyunaffected by the undulating topography across the textured surface ascompared to a substantially identical optical element which is free ofthe textured surface.Feature 18A. The article of feature 7A, wherein the optical elementincludes at least one layer, wherein at least layer is made of amaterial selected from metal, metal oxide, or stainless steel.Feature 19A. The article of feature 7A, wherein the article is anon-woven synthetic leather upper for an article of footwear.Feature 20A. The article of feature 7A, wherein the chromatic color iscyan, blue, indigo, violet, or a chromatic color that is a combinationthereof.Feature 1B. An article of footwear comprising: an optical element on asurface of the article, wherein the surface is a non-woven syntheticleather upper, wherein the optical element imparts a first structuralcolor and a second structural color at different angles of observation,at different angles of incident light, or at both different angles ofobservation and different angles of incident light, wherein the firststructural color is an achromatic color and the second structural coloris a chromatic color, wherein achromatic color is selected from black,white, or neutral gray, wherein the chromatic color is cyan, blue,indigo, violet, or a chromatic color that is a combination thereof.Feature 2B. The article of feature 1B, wherein the achromatic color hasno hue or chroma and has a value of 0 to 10 according to the Munsellcolor system, wherein the chromatic color has hue, chroma, or both hueand chroma.Feature 3B. The article of feature 1B, wherein the optical element, asdisposed onto the article, as measured according to the CIE 1976 colorspace under a given illumination condition has a color measurement thatcorresponds with the achromatic color, wherein the first colormeasurement has coordinates L* and a* and b*, wherein both of a* and b*are equal to 0.Feature 4B. The article of feature 1B, wherein the achromatic color isblack at the first angle of observation, wherein the optical elementreflects all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740nanometers to substantially the same degree at the first angle ofobservation, wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.Feature 5B. The article of feature 4B, wherein the percent reflectanceof the optical element is about 2 percent or less at the first angle ofobservation for all of the wavelengths within the range of about 380 toabout 740 nanometers or wherein the percent absorbance of the opticalelement is about 98 percent or more at the first angle of observationfor all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740nanometers, wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.Feature 6B. The article of feature 1B, wherein the achromatic color iswhite, wherein the optical element absorbs all wavelengths within therange of about 380 to about 740 nanometers to substantially the samedegree the first angle of observation, wherein the observation angle isan observation angle at which the achromatic color is visible to anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article.Feature 7B. The article of feature 6B, wherein the percent absorbance ofthe optical element is about 2 percent or less at the first angle ofobservation for all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about740 nanometers or wherein the percent reflectance of the optical elementis about 98 percent or more at the first angle of observation for allwavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers,wherein the observation angle is an observation angle at which theachromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visual acuityand normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.Feature 8B. The article of feature 7B, wherein the achromatic color isneutral gray, wherein the percent absorbance of the optical element isabout 2 to 98 percent at the first angle of observation for allwavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers orwherein the percent reflectance of the optical element is about 2 to 98percent at the first angle of observation for all wavelengths within therange of about 380 to about 740 nanometers, wherein the observationangle is an observation angle at which the achromatic color is visibleto an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article.Feature 9B. The article of feature 1B, wherein the optical element hasthe characteristic that at a change of the angle of observation of anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article of 15 percent or more resultsin an abrupt change from the achromatic color to the chromatic color.Feature 10B. An article of footwear comprising: an optical element on asurface of the article, wherein the surface is a non-woven syntheticleather upper, wherein the optical element imparts a first structuralcolor and a second structural color at different angles of observation,at different angles of incident light, or at both different angles ofobservation and different angles of incident light, wherein the firststructural color is an achromatic color and the second structural coloris a chromatic color, wherein achromatic color is selected from black,white, or neutral gray, wherein the chromatic color is a red/yellow/blue(RYB) primary color, a RYB secondary color, a RYB tertiary color, a RYBquaternary color, a RYB quinary color, or a chromatic color that is acombination thereof.Feature 11B. The article of feature 10B, wherein the optical element, asdisposed onto the article, when measured according to the CIE 1976 colorspace under a given illumination condition at angle of observation, hasa color measurement that corresponds with the first structural color,wherein the first color measurement has coordinates L₁* and a₁* andb_(1*), wherein both of a₁* and b₁* are equal to about 0 or wherein whena* or b* or both a* and b* are not equal to 0 but a* and b* are closeenough to 0 that to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normalcolor vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article considersthe first structural color achromatic; and

wherein the optical element, as disposed onto the article, when measuredaccording to the CIE 1976 color space under a given illuminationcondition at angle of observation, has a color measurement thatcorresponds with the second structural color, wherein the second colormeasurement has coordinates L₂* and a₂* and b₂*, wherein at least one ofa₂* or b₂* is greater than 0 or less than 0 or optionally wherein whena* or b* or both a* and b* are not equal to 0 but a* and b* are farenough from 0 that to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normalcolor vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article considersthe second structural color chromatic.

Feature 12B. The article of feature 10B, wherein the optical elementincludes a textured surface having a plurality of profile features andflat planar areas, wherein the profile features extend above the flatareas of the textured surface, wherein the profile features and the flatareas result in at least one layer of the optical element having anundulating topography across the textured surface, wherein theachromatic color, the chromatic color, or both are unaffected orsubstantially unaffected by the undulating topography across thetextured surface as compared to a substantially identical opticalelement which is free of the textured surface.Feature 13B. The article of feature 10B, wherein achromatic color isblack, wherein the chromatic color is blue, indigo, violet, or achromatic color that is a combination thereof.Feature 14B. The article of feature 10B, wherein achromatic color iswhite, wherein the chromatic color is blue, indigo, violet, or achromatic color that is a combination thereof.Feature 15B. The article of feature 10B, wherein achromatic color isneutral gray, wherein the chromatic color is blue, indigo, violet, or achromatic color that is a combination thereof, Feature 16B. The articleof feature 10B, wherein the optical element has the characteristic thatat a change of the angle of observation of an observer having 20/20visual acuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meterfrom the article of 15 percent or more results in an abrupt change fromthe achromatic color to the chromatic color.Feature 17B. The article of feature 10B, wherein the optical element hasthe characteristic that at a change of the angle of observation of anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article of 3 to 10 percent results ina gradual change from the achromatic color to the chromatic color.Feature 18B. The article of feature 10B, wherein the optical elementincludes at least one layer, wherein at least layer is made of amaterial selected from metal, metal oxide, or stainless steel.Feature 19B. The article of feature 10B, wherein the optical elementimparts the first structural color to the article from at a first angleof observation or a first angle of incident light and imparts the secondstructural color to the article from a second angle of observation or asecond angle of incident light, wherein the first angle and the secondangle are different by at least 15 degrees.Feature 20B. The article of feature 10B, wherein the achromatic colorhas no hue or chroma and has a value of 0 to 10 according to the Munsellcolor system, wherein the chromatic color has hue, chroma, or both hueand chroma.Feature 10. An article comprising:

an optical element on a surface of the article, wherein the opticalelement imparts an achromatic color and a chromatic color to thearticle.

Feature 2C. The article of feature 10, wherein the achromatic color hasno hue or chroma and has a value of 0 to 10 according to the Munsellcolor system, wherein the chromatic color has hue, chroma, or both hueand chroma.Feature 3C. The article of feature 10, wherein the achromatic color isselected from black, white, or neutral gray and wherein the chromaticcolor is a red/yellow/blue (RYB) primary color, a RYB secondary color, aRYB tertiary color, a RYB quaternary color, a RYB quinary color, or achromatic color that is a combination thereof.Feature 4C. The article of feature 10, wherein the optical element, asdisposed onto the article, as measured according to the CIE 1976 colorspace under a given illumination condition has a color measurement thatcorresponds with the achromatic color, wherein the first colormeasurement has coordinates L* and a* and b*, wherein both of a* and b*are equal to 0.Feature 5C. The article of feature 10, wherein the optical element, asdisposed onto the article, as measured according to the CIE 1976 colorspace under a given illumination condition, has a first colormeasurement that corresponds with the achromatic color, wherein thefirst color measurement has coordinates L* and a* and b*, wherein one orboth of a* and b* are equal to about 0 or wherein when a* or b* or botha* and b* are not equal to 0 but a* and b* are close enough to 0 that toan observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article considers the first colormeasurement achromatic color.Feature 6C. The article of features 1C-5C, wherein the optical elementincludes a textured surface having a plurality of profile features andflat planar areas, wherein the profile features extend above the flatareas of the textured surface, wherein the profile features and the flatareas result in at least one layer of the optical element having anundulating topography across the textured surface, wherein theachromatic color, the chromatic color, or both are unaffected orsubstantially unaffected by the undulating topography across thetextured surface as compared to a substantially identical opticalelement which is free of the textured surface.Feature 7C. An article comprising: an optical element on a surface ofthe article, wherein the optical element imparts a first structuralcolor and a second structural color at different angles of observation,at different angles of incident light, or at both different angles ofobservation and different angles of incident light, wherein the firststructural color is an achromatic color and the second structural coloris a chromatic color.Feature 8C. The article of feature 7C, wherein the achromatic color isselected from black, white, or neutral gray.Feature 9C. The article of feature 7C, wherein the achromatic color hasno hue or chroma and has a value of 0 to 10 according to the Munsellcolor system.Feature 10C. The article of features 7C-9C, wherein the optical elementimparts the first structural color to the article from at a first angleof observation or a first angle of incident light and imparts the secondstructural color to the article from a second angle of observation or asecond angle of incident light, wherein the first angle and the secondangle are different by at least 15 degrees.Feature 110. The article of feature 8C, wherein the achromatic color isblack at the first angle of observation, wherein the optical elementreflects all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740nanometers to substantially the same degree at the first angle ofobservation, wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.Feature 12C. The article of feature 110, wherein the percent reflectanceof the optical element is about 2 percent or less at the first angle ofobservation for all of the wavelengths within the range of about 380 toabout 740 nanometers or wherein the percent absorbance of the opticalelement is about 98 percent or more at the first angle of observationfor all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740nanometers, wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.Feature 13C. The article of features 8C or 9C, wherein the achromaticcolor is white, wherein the optical element absorbs all wavelengthswithin the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers to substantiallythe same degree the first angle of observation, wherein the observationangle is an observation angle at which the achromatic color is visibleto an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article.Feature 14C. The article of feature 13C, wherein the percent absorbanceof the optical element is about 2 percent or less at the first angle ofobservation for all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about740 nanometers or wherein the percent reflectance of the optical elementis about 98 percent or more at the first angle of observation for allwavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers,wherein the observation angle is an observation angle at which theachromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visual acuityand normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.Feature 15C. The article of features 8C or 9C, wherein the achromaticcolor is neutral gray, wherein the percent absorbance of the opticalelement is about 2 to 98 percent at the first angle of observation forall wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740 nanometers orwherein the percent reflectance of the optical element is about 2 to 98percent at the first angle of observation for all wavelengths within therange of about 380 to about 740 nanometers, wherein the observationangle is an observation angle at which the achromatic color is visibleto an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article.Feature 16C. The article of feature 100, wherein the optical element, asdisposed onto the article, when measured according to the CIE 1976 colorspace under a given illumination condition at angle of observation, hasa color measurement that corresponds with the first structural color,wherein the first color measurement has coordinates L₁* and a₁* andb_(1*), wherein both of a₁* and b₁* are equal to about 0 or wherein whena* or b* or both a* and b* are not equal to 0 but a* and b* are closeenough to 0 that to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normalcolor vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article considersthe first structural color achromatic;

wherein the optical element, as disposed onto the article, when measuredaccording to the CIE 1976 color space under a given illuminationcondition at angle of observation, has a color measurement thatcorresponds with the second structural color, wherein the second colormeasurement has coordinates L₂* and a₂* and b₂*, wherein at least one ofa₂* or b₂* is greater than 0 or less than 0 or optionally wherein whena* or b* or both a* and b* are not equal to 0 but a* and b* are farenough from 0 that to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normalcolor vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article considersthe second structural color chromatic.

Feature 17C. The article feature 100, wherein the optical elementincludes a textured surface having a plurality of profile features andflat planar areas, wherein the profile features extend above the flatareas of the textured surface, wherein the profile features and the flatareas result in at least one layer of the optical element having anundulating topography across the textured surface, wherein theachromatic color at the first angle of observation is unaffected orsubstantially unaffected by the undulating topography across thetextured surface as compared to a substantially identical opticalelement which is free of the textured surface and wherein the chromaticcolor at the second angle of observation is unaffected or substantiallyunaffected by the undulating topography across the textured surface ascompared to a substantially identical optical element which is free ofthe textured surface.Feature 18C. The article of features 7C-9C, wherein the optical elementincludes at least one layer, wherein at least layer is made of amaterial selected from metal, metal oxide, or stainless steel.Feature 19C. The article of features 7C-9C, wherein the article is anon-woven synthetic leather upper for an article of footwear.Feature 20C. The article of features 7C-9C, wherein the chromatic coloris blue, indigo, violet, or a chromatic color that is a combinationthereof.

Now having described embodiments of the present disclosure generally,additional discussion regarding embodiments will be described in greaterdetails.

This disclosure is not limited to particular embodiments described, andas such may, of course, vary. The terminology used herein serves thepurpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intendedto be limiting, since the scope of the present disclosure will belimited only by the appended claims.

Where a range of values is provided, each intervening value, to thetenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any otherstated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed withinthe disclosure. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges mayindependently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassedwithin the disclosure, subject to any specifically excluded limit in thestated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits,ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are alsoincluded in the disclosure.

As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading thisdisclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustratedherein has discrete components and features which may be readilyseparated from or combined with the features of any of the other severalembodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the presentdisclosure. Any recited method may be carried out in the order of eventsrecited or in any other order that is logically possible.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will employ, unless otherwiseindicated, techniques of material science, chemistry, textiles, polymerchemistry, and the like, which are within the skill of the art. Suchtechniques are explained fully in the literature.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art of material science, chemistry, textiles, polymer chemistry, andthe like. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presentdisclosure, suitable methods and materials are described herein.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,” “an,” and “the” may include plural referents unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a support”includes a plurality of supports. In this specification and in theclaims that follow, reference will be made to a number of terms thatshall be defined to have the following meanings unless a contraryintention is apparent.

The present disclosure provides for articles that exhibit structuralcolor, where the structural color can shift based on the angle ofobservation and/or incident light. For example, as the angle ofobservation and/or incident light changes (e.g., about 10 or 15degrees), the structural color shifts. The structural color shift can beachieved through the use of an optical element. For example in one typeof shift, the structural color shift can be between achromaticstructural color and chromatic structural color or vice versa. Thestructural color can be imparted by the optical element havingreflective layer(s) and/or constituent layer(s), incorporated onto oneor more components of the article, for example, when the article is anarticle of footwear, on an upper or sole of an article of footwear. Thestructural color (achromatic or chromatic color) is a visible colorproduced, at least in part, through optical effects (e.g., throughscattering, refraction, reflection, interference, and/or diffraction ofvisible wavelengths of light).

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure the surface of thearticle includes the optical element (e.g., a signal layer, a multilayerreflector or a multilayer filter), where at least one layer is flat (orplanar) or substantially flat (or substantially planar), and where theoptical element imparts structural color. In one or more additionalembodiments of the present disclosure the surface of the articleincludes the optical element (e.g., a signal layer reflector, amultilayer reflector, a single layer filter, or a multilayer filter),and is optionally a textured surface or the layers have a texturedtopography, where the optical element and optionally the texturedsurface or textured topography impart structural color and/or shift instructural color, or optionally the textured surface or texturedtopography do not contribute to the structural color and/or shift thestructural color. The optional textured surface can be disposed betweenthe optical element and the surface or be part of the optical element,depending upon the design. The optical element can be disposed on or isan integral part of a surface of the article.

A “chromatic color” is a color in which one particular wavelength or huepredominates, while an “achromatic color” is a color in which noparticular wavelength or hue predominates as well as all wavelengths orhues are present in equal parts or substantially equal parts. Theachromatic color can be selected from black, white, or neutral gray. Incontrast, the chromatic color can be selected from a red/yellow/blue(RYB) primary color, a RYB secondary color, a RYB tertiary color, a RYBquaternary color, a RYB quinary color, or a chromatic color that is acombination thereof. The chromatic color can be red, yellow, blue,green, orange, purple, or a chromatic color that is a combinationthereof. The chromatic color can be red, orange, yellow, green, blue,indigo, violet, or a chromatic color that is a combination thereof. Thechromatic color has hue and/or chroma according the Munsell colorsystem. The chromatic color does not include black, white, or neutralgray.

The wavelength range can be about 380 to 740 nanometers and can bemeasured as a function of absorbance or reflectance, each of which canbe used to define the structural color imparted by the optical element.Graphs illustrating chromatic colors can include a wide variety curveswhere certain wavelengths are more prevalent than others while graphsillustrating achromatic color are relatively flat across the visiblewavelength range. Graphs for chromatic color are not illustrated whileFIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate graphs of wavelength as a function of percentreflectance and absorbance, respectively, where each graph isillustrative of measurement of various parameters where the structuralachromatic color is black. Similarly, FIGS. 4A and 4B and 5A and 5Billustrate graphs of wavelength as a function of percent reflectance andabsorbance, respectively, where each graph is illustrative ofmeasurement of various parameters for white and neutral gray (e.g.,three curves (a)-(c) illustrate possible neutral grays), respectively.

In regard to absorbance, the optical element absorbs all wavelengthswithin the range of about 380 to 740 nanometers to substantially thesame degree, where the percent absorbance correlates to the particularstructural color (e.g., achromatic structural color). “Substantially thesame degree” as used herein for absorbance and reflectance encompassesplus or minus about 5 percent, plus or minus about 10 percent, plus orminus about 15 percent. The percent absorbance of the optical element isabout 98 percent or more, about 99 percent or more, about 99.5 percentor more, about 99.9 percent or more, about 100 percent within the rangeof about 380 to 740 nanometers to substantially the same degree when theachromatic structural color is black. The percent absorbance of theoptical element is about 2 percent or less, about 1 percent or less,about 0.5 percent or less, about 0.1 percent or less, 0 percent withinthe range of about 380 to 740 nanometers to substantially the samedegree when the achromatic structural color is white. When theachromatic structural color is neutral gray, the percent absorbance ofthe optical element is about 2 to 98, about 1 to 99 percent, about 0.5to about 99.5 percent, about 0.1 to about 99.9, within the range ofabout 380 to 740 nanometers to substantially the same degree.

In regard to reflectance, the optical element reflects all wavelengthswithin the range of about 380 to 740 nanometers to substantially thesame degree, where the percent absorbance correlates to the particularachromatic structural color. The percent reflectance of the opticalelement is about 2 percent or less, about 1 percent or less, about 0.5percent or less, about 0.1 percent or less, or 0 percent within therange of about 380 to 740 nanometers to substantially the same degreewhen the achromatic structural color is black. The percent reflectanceof the optical element is about 98 percent or more, about 99 percent ormore, about 99.5 percent or more, about 99.9 percent or more, about 100percent within the range of about 380 to 740 nanometers to substantiallythe same degree when the achromatic structural color is white. Thepercent reflectance of the optical element is about 2 to 98, about 1 to99 percent, about 0.5 to about 99.5 percent, about 0.1 to about 99.9,within the range of about 380 to 740 nanometers to substantially thesame degree, when the achromatic structural color is neutral gray.

The optical element can have a structural color that can be independentof the angle of incident light upon the optical element. In addition orin the alternative, the optical element can have a structural color thatis independent of the observation angle. In either of these cases whereregardless of the change (e.g., 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 60degrees, 90 degrees, or more) of the angle of incident light upon theoptical element and/or the observation angle the structural color doesnot shift from achromatic to chromatic structural color (or vice versa),then the structural color can be independent of the angle of incidentlight upon the optical element.

The optical element can impart structural color that can be dependent ofthe angle of incident light upon the optical element and/or observationangle, where the structural color is different at two, three, or moredifferent angles (e.g., each angle being about 10 agrees, about 15degrees, about 20 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 45 degrees, about 90degrees, or more apart) of incident light or observation angles (e.g.,the shift can be between an achromatic color (e.g., white, black,neutral gray) to a chromatic color (e.g., red/yellow/blue (RYB) primarycolor, a RYB secondary color, a RYB tertiary color, a RYB quaternarycolor, or a RYB quinary color)) or vice versa.

The structural color imparted by the optical element can be dependent ofthe angle of incident light upon the optical element and/or dependent onthe observation angle. The dependence upon the angle of incident lightand/or the observation angle can be evaluated using CIE 1976 color spaceunder a given illumination condition at two observation angles (e.g.,between −15 degrees and 180 degrees or between −15 degrees and +60degrees) and which are at least 10 degrees or at least 15 degrees apartfrom each other. For example, at a first observation angle thestructural color is a first structural color and at a second observationangle the structural color is a second structural color. A first colormeasurement at the first observation angle can be obtained and hascoordinates L₁* and a₁* and b_(1*), while a second color measurement atthe second observation angle can be obtained and has coordinates L₂* anda₂* and b₂* can be obtained. ΔE*_(ab) can be determined using thefollowing equation: ΔE*_(ab)=[(L₁*−L₂*)²+(a₁*−a₂*)₂+(b₁*−b₂*)²]^(1/2).

When ΔE*_(ab) between the first color measurement and the second colormeasurement is less than or equal to about 2.2 or is less than or equalto about 3, the first structural color associated with the first colormeasurement and the second structural color associated with the secondcolor measurement are the same or not perceptibly different to anaverage observer (e.g., the structural color is independent of the angleof incident light and/or is independent of the observation angle forthis particle set of angles). When ΔE*_(ab) between the first colormeasurement and the second color measurement is greater than 3 oroptionally greater than about 4 or 5, the first structural colorassociated with the first color measurement and the second structuralcolor associated with the second color measurement are different orperceptibly different to an average observer (e.g., the structural coloris dependent on the angle of incident light and/or is dependent onobservation angle and shifts from achromatic structural color tochromatic structural color (or vice versa) upon a change in the angle).

In another approach, when the percent difference between one or more ofvalues L₁* and L_(2*), a₁* and a₂*, and b₁* and b₂* is less than 20percent, the first structural color associated with the first colormeasurement and the second structural color associated with the secondcolor measurement are the same or not perceptibly different to anaverage observer (e.g., the structural color is independent of the angleof incident light upon the optical element and/or is independent uponobservation angle of the optical element for this particular set ofangles). When the percent difference between one or more of values L₁*and L₂* a₁* and a_(2*), and b₁* and b₂* is greater than 20 percent, thefirst structural color associated with the first color measurement andthe second structural color associated with the second color measurementare different or perceptibly different to an average observer (e.g., thestructural color is dependent of the angle of incident light on theoptical element and/or is dependent on the observation angle of theoptical element and shifts from achromatic structural color to chromaticstructural color (or vice versa) upon a change in the angle).

The optical element, as disposed onto the article, when measuredaccording to CIE 1976 color space under a given illumination conditionat an observation angle has a color measurement that corresponds withthe achromatic structural color. For example, the first colormeasurement can have coordinates L* and a* and b*, wherein both of a*and b* are equal to 0. In another example, the first color measurementcan have coordinates L* and a* and b*, wherein both of a* and b* areequal to about 0. In this instance, optionally, a* or b* or both of a*and b* are less than 0.5. 0.2, or 0.1, and are within about 10 percentor about 5 percent of each other. In another example, the color mayappear to be achromatic to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity andnormal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the articlewhen a* or b* or both a* and b* are about 0. In another example, thecolor may appear to be achromatic to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle when a* or b* or both a* and b* are about 0, where a* or b* orboth of a* and b* are less than 0.5. 0.2, or 0.1, and are within about10 percent or 5 percent of each other.

As described herein, the optical element is used to impart thestructural color (e.g., one that shifts from achromatic to chromaticstructural color or vice versa), where the optical element can includeone or a plurality of layers. In an example, the layers can include oneor more reflective layers and/or one or more constituent layers toproduce the structural color. The layers can be flat (or threedimensional flat planar surface) or substantially flat (or substantiallythree dimensional flat planar surface) or can have a texturedtopography. One of the reflective layers can be a base reflective layerdisposed on one side of the optical element; in other words the layerstructure is as follows: base reflective layer/1^(st) constituentlayer/nth constituent layer. Optionally, one of the reflective layerscan be a non-base reflective layer disposed between a pair ofconstituent layers of the optical element; in other words the layerstructure is as follows: base reflective layer/1^(st) constituentlayer/nth constituent layer/non-base reflective layer/mth constituentlayer. Also as described herein, the optical element can also includethe optional textured surface, such as a texture layer and/or a texturedstructure as opposed to a three dimensional flat planar surface.Additionally and optionally, the optical element can include one or morelayers (e.g., protection layer, top layer, and the like). In anembodiment, the reflective layer(s) can be omitted and the opticalelement only includes constituent layers and can still produce thestructural color.

The base reflective layer can have a percent reflectance of about 50percent or more, about 75 percent or more, about 80 percent or more,about 85 percent or more, about 90 percent or more, or about 95 percentor more. The base reflective layer can have a thickness of at least 10nanometers, optionally at least 30 nanometers, at least 40 nanometers,at least 50 nanometers, at least 60 nanometers, at least 100 nanometers,at least 150 nanometers, optionally a thickness of from about 10nanometers to about 250 nanometers or more, about 10 nanometers to about100 nanometers, about 10 nanometers to about 150 nanometers, about 10nanometers to about 100 nanometers, or of from about 30 nanometers toabout 80 nanometers, or from about 40 nanometers to about 60 nanometers.For example, the base layer can be about 30 to 150 nanometers thick.

The optical element can include one or more non-base reflective layers.The non-base reflective layer can have a minimum percent transmittanceof at least 5 percent, optionally at least 10 percent, at least 15percent, at least 20 percent, at least 30 percent, at least 40 percent,or at least 50 percent, or at least 60 percent. Typically, the basereflective layer has a greater percent reflectance than the non-basereflective layer. The non-base reflective layer can have a thickness ofless than 40 nanometers, optionally less than 30 nanometers, optionallyless than 20 nanometers, optionally less than 10 nanometers. Forexample, the non-base layer can be 20 to 30 nanometers thick. Thenon-base layer is not opaque.

A minimum percent transmittance of greater than 50 percent is an opaquelayer, a minimum percent transmittance of 20 to 50 percent to besemi-transparent, and a minimum percent transmittance of less than 20percent is transparent.

The reflective layer (e.g., base or non-base reflective layer) caninclude a metal layer, an alloy thereof, an organic layer, an oxidelayer, or stainless steel or mixtures thereof. The oxide layer can be ametal oxide, a doped metal oxide, or a combination thereof. The metallayer, the metal oxide or the doped metal oxide can include thefollowing: the transition metals, the metalloids, the lanthanides, andthe actinides, as well as nitrides, oxynitrides, sulfides, sulfates,selenides, tellurides and a combination of these. The metal layer can betitanium, aluminum, silver, zirconium, chromium, magnesium, silicon,gold, platinum, nobium, and a combination thereof. The metal oxide caninclude titanium oxide, silver oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide,tin dioxide, chromia, iron oxide, nickel oxide, silver oxide, cobaltoxide, zinc oxide, platinum oxide, palladium oxide, vanadium oxide,molybdenum oxide, lead oxide, nobium oxide, and combinations thereof aswell as doped versions of each. In some aspects, the reflective layercan consist essentially of a metal oxide. In some aspects, thereflective layer can consist essentially of titanium dioxide. The metaloxide can be doped with water, inert gasses (e.g., argon), reactivegasses (e.g., oxygen or nitrogen), metals, small molecules, and acombination thereof. In some aspects, the reflective layer can consistessentially of a doped metal oxide or a doped metal oxynitride or both.

The reflective layer can be a coating on the surface of the article. Thecoating can be chemically bonded (e.g., covalently bonded, ionicallybonded, hydrogen bonded, and the like) to the surface of the article.The coating has been found to bond well to a surface made of a polymericmaterial. In an example, the surface of the article can be made of apolymeric material such as a polyurethane, including a thermoplasticpolyurethane (TPU), as those described herein. Additional details aboutthe optical element and the reflective layer(s) are provided herein.

In an embodiment, the imparted structural color is not used incombination with a pigment and/or dye. In another aspect, the impartedstructural color is used in combination with a pigment and/or dye.

The article including the optical element can be an article ofmanufacture or a component of the article. The article of manufacturecan include footwear, apparel (e.g., shirts, jerseys, pants, shorts,gloves, glasses, socks, hats, caps, jackets, undergarments), containers(e.g., backpacks, bags), and upholstery for furniture (e.g., chairs,couches, car seats), bed coverings (e.g., sheets, blankets), tablecoverings, towels, flags, tents, sails, and parachutes, or components ofany one of these. In addition, the optical element can be used with ordisposed on textiles or other items such as striking devices (e.g.,bats, rackets, sticks, mallets, golf clubs, paddles, etc.), athleticequipment (e.g., golf bags, baseball and football gloves, soccer ballrestriction structures), protective equipment (e.g., pads, helmets,guards, visors, masks, goggles, etc.), locomotive equipment (e.g.,bicycles, motorcycles, skateboards, cars, trucks, boats, surfboards,skis, snowboards, etc.), balls or pucks for use in various sports,fishing or hunting equipment, furniture, electronic equipment,construction materials, eyewear, timepieces, jewelry, and the like.

The article can be an article of footwear. The article of footwear canbe designed for a variety of uses, such as sporting, athletic, military,work-related, recreational, or casual use. Primarily, the article offootwear is intended for outdoor use on unpaved surfaces (in part or inwhole), such as on a ground surface including one or more of grass,turf, gravel, sand, dirt, clay, mud, pavement, and the like, whether asan athletic performance surface or as a general outdoor surface.However, the article of footwear may also be desirable for indoorapplications, such as indoor sports including dirt playing surfaces forexample (e.g., indoor baseball fields with dirt infields).

In particular, the article of footwear can be designed for use in indooror outdoor sporting activities, such as global football/soccer, golf,American football, rugby, baseball, running, track and field, cycling(e.g., road cycling and mountain biking), and the like. The article offootwear can optionally include traction elements (e.g., lugs, cleats,studs, and spikes as well as tread patterns) to provide traction on softand slippery surfaces, where components of the present disclosure can beused or applied between or among the traction elements and optionally onthe sides of the traction elements but on the surface of the tractionelement that contacts the ground or surface. Cleats, studs and spikesare commonly included in footwear designed for use in sports such asglobal football/soccer, golf, American football, rugby, baseball, andthe like, which are frequently played on unpaved surfaces. Lugs and/orexaggerated tread patterns are commonly included in footwear includingboots design for use under rugged outdoor conditions, such as trailrunning, hiking, and military use.

In particular, the article can be an article of apparel (i.e., agarment). The article of apparel can be an article of apparel designedfor athletic or leisure activities. The article of apparel can be anarticle of apparel designed to provide protection from the elements(e.g., wind and/or rain), or from impacts.

In particular, the article can be an article of sporting equipment. Thearticle of sporting equipment can be designed for use in indoor oroutdoor sporting activities, such as global football/soccer, golf,American football, rugby, baseball, running, track and field, cycling(e.g., road cycling and mountain biking), and the like.

FIGS. 1A-1M illustrates footwear, apparel, athletic equipment,container, electronic equipment, and vision wear that include thestructure (e.g., the optical element) of the present disclosure. Astructure including the optical element is represented by hashed areas12A′/12M′-12A″/12M′. The location of the structure is provided only toindicate one possible area that the structure can be located. Also, twolocations are illustrated in some of the figures and one location isillustrated in other figures, but this is done only for illustrationpurposes as the items can include one or a plurality of structure, wherethe size and location can be determined based on the item. Thestructure(s) located on each item can represent a number, letter,symbol, design, emblem, graphic mark, icon, logo, or the like.

FIGS. 1N(a) and 1N(b) illustrate a perspective view and a side view ofan article of footwear 100 that include a sole structure 104 and anupper 102. The structure including the optical element is represented by122 a and 122 b. The sole structure 104 is secured to the upper 102 andextends between the foot and the ground when the article of footwear 100is worn. The primary elements of the sole structure 104 are a midsole114 and an outsole 112, The midsole 114 is secured to a lower area ofthe upper 102 and may be formed of a polymer foam or another appropriatematerial. In other configurations, the midsole 114 can incorporatefluid-filled chambers, plates, moderators, and/or other elements thatfurther attenuate forces, enhance stability, or influence motions of thefoot. The outsole 112 is secured to a lower surface of the midsole 114and may be formed from a wear-resistant rubber material that is texturedto impart traction, for example. The upper 102 can be formed fromvarious elements (e.g., lace, tongue, collar) that combine to provide astructure for securely and comfortably receiving a foot. Although theconfiguration of the upper 102 may vary significantly, the variouselements generally define a void within the upper 102 for receiving andsecuring the foot relative to sole structure 104. Surfaces of the voidwithin upper 102 are shaped to accommodate the foot and extend over thein step and toe areas of the foot, along the medial and lateral sides ofthe foot, under the foot, and around the heel area of the foot. Theupper 102 can be made of one or more materials such as textiles, apolymer foam, leather, synthetic leather, and the like that are stitchedor bonded together. Although this configuration for the sole structure104 and the upper 102 provides an example of a sole structure that maybe used in connection with an upper, a variety of other conventional ornonconventional configurations for the sole structure 104 and/or theupper 102 can also be utilized. Accordingly, the configuration andfeatures of the sole structure 104 and/or the upper 102 can varyconsiderably.

FIGS. 1O(a) and 1O(b) illustrate a perspective view and a side view ofan article of footwear 130 that include a sole structure 134 and anupper 132. The structure including the optical element is represented by136 a and 136 b/136 b′. The sole structure 134 is secured to the upper132 and extends between the foot and the ground when the article offootwear 130 is worn. The upper 132 can be formed from various elements(e.g., lace, tongue, collar) that combine to provide a structure forsecurely and comfortably receiving a foot. Although the configuration ofthe upper 132 may vary significantly, the various elements generallydefine a void within the upper 132 for receiving and securing the footrelative to the sole structure 134. Surfaces of the void within theupper 132 are shaped to accommodate the foot and extend over the in stepand toe areas of the foot, along the medial and lateral sides of thefoot, under the foot, and around the heel area of the foot. The upper132 can be made of one or more materials such as textiles, polymer foam,leather, synthetic leather, and the like that are stitched or bondedtogether.

The primary elements of the sole structure 134 are a forefoot component142, a heel component 144, and an outsole 146. Each of the forefootcomponent 142 and the heel component 144 are directly or indirectlysecured to a lower area of the upper 132 and formed from a polymermaterial that encloses a fluid, which may be a gas, liquid, or gel.During walking and running, for example, the forefoot component 142 andthe heel component 144 compress between the foot and the ground; therebyattenuating ground reaction forces. That is, the forefoot component 142and the heel component 144 are inflated and generally pressurized withthe fluid to cushion the foot. The outsole 146 is secured to lower areasof the forefoot component 142 and the heel component 144 and may beformed from a wear-resistant rubber material that is textured to imparttraction. The forefoot component 142 can be made of one or more polymers(e.g., layers of one or more polymers films) that form a plurality ofchambers that includes a fluid such as a gas. The plurality of chamberscan be independent or fluidically interconnected. Similarly, the heelcomponent 144 can be made of one or more polymers (e.g.; layers of oneor more polymers films) that form a plurality of chambers that includesa fluid such as a gas and can also be independent or fluidicallyinterconnected. In some configurations, the sole structure 134 mayinclude a foam layer, for example, that extends between the upper 132and one or both of the forefoot component 142 and the heel component144, or a foam element may be located within indentations in the lowerareas of the forefoot component 142 and the heel component 144. In otherconfigurations, the sole structure 132 may incorporate plates,moderators, lasting elements, or motion control members that furtherattenuate forces, enhance stability, or influence the motions of thefoot, for example. Although the depicted configuration for the solestructure 134 and the upper 132 provides an example of a sole structurethat may be used in connection with an upper, a variety of otherconventional or nonconventional configurations for the sole structure134 and/or the upper 132 can also be utilized. Accordingly, theconfiguration and features of the sole structure 134 and/or the upper132 can vary considerably.

FIG. 10(c) is a cross-sectional view of A-A that depicts the upper 132and the heel component 144. The optical element 136 b can be disposed onthe outside wall of the heel component 144 or alternatively oroptionally the optical element 136 b′ can be disposed on the inside wallof the heel component 144.

FIGS. 1P(a) and 1P(b) illustrate a perspective view and a side view ofan article of footwear 160 that includes traction elements 168. Thestructure including the optical element is represented by 172 a and 172b. The article of footwear 160 includes an upper 162 and a solestructure 164, where the upper 162 is secured to the sole structure 164.The sole structure 164 can include a toe plate 166 a, a mid-plate 166 b,and a heel plate 166 c as well as traction elements 168. The tractionelements 168 can include lugs, cleats, studs, and spikes as well astread patterns to provide traction on soft and slippery surfaces. Ingeneral, the cleats, studs and spikes are commonly included in footweardesigned for use in sports such as global football/soccer, golf,American football, rugby, baseball, and the like, while lugs and/orexaggerated tread patterns are commonly included in footwear (not shown)including boots design for use under rugged outdoor conditions, such astrail running, hiking, and military use. The sole structure 164 issecured to the upper 162 and extends between the foot and the groundwhen the article of footwear 160 is worn. The upper 162 can be formedfrom various elements (e.g., lace; tongue, collar) that combine toprovide a structure for securely and comfortably receiving a foot.Although the configuration of the upper 162 may vary significantly, thevarious elements generally define a void within the upper 162 forreceiving and securing the foot relative to the sole structure 164.Surfaces of the void within upper 162 are shaped to accommodate the footand extend over the in step and toe areas of the foot, along the medialand lateral sides of the foot, under the foot, and around the heel areaof the foot. The upper 162 can be made of one or more materials such astextiles, a polymer foam, leather, synthetic leather, and the like thatare stitched or bonded together. In other aspects not depicted, the solestructure 164 may incorporate foam, one or more fluid-filled chambers,plates, moderators, or other elements that further attenuate forces,enhance stability, or influence the motions of the foot. Although thedepicted configuration for the sole structure 164 and the upper 162provides an example of a sole structure that may be used in connectionwith an upper, a variety of other conventional or nonconventionalconfigurations for the sole structure 164 and/or the upper 162 can alsobe utilized. Accordingly, the configuration and features of the solestructure 164 and/or the upper 162 can vary considerably.

FIGS. 1Q(a)-1Q(j) illustrate additional views of exemplary articles ofathletic footwear including various configurations of upper 176. FIG.1Q(a) is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary article ofathletic footwear showing insole 174, upper 176, optional midsole oroptional lasting board 177, and outsole 178, which can take the form ofa plate. Structures including optical elements are represented by 175a-175 d. FIG. 1Q(b) is a top view of an exemplary article of athleticfootwear indicating an opening 183 configured to receive a wearer's footas well as an ankle collar 181 which may include optical element 182.The ankle collar is configured to be positioned around a wearers ankleduring wear, and optionally can include a cushioning element. Alsoillustrated are the lateral side 180 and medial side 179 of theexemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG. 1Q(c) is a back view of thearticle of footwear depicted in FIG. 10(b), showing an optional heelclip 184 that can include optical element 185. FIG. 1Q(d) shows a sideview of an exemplary article of athletic footwear, which may optionallyalso include a tongue 186, laces 188, a toe cap 189, a heel counter 190,a decorative element such as a logo 191 and/or eyestays for the laces192 as well as a toe area 193 a, a heel area 193 b, and a vamp 193 c. Insome aspects, the heel counter 190 can be covered by a layer of knitted,woven, or nonwoven fabric, natural or synthetic leather, film, or othershoe upper material. In some aspects, the eyestays 192 are formed as onecontinuous piece; however, they can also comprise several separatepieces or cables individually surrounding a single eyelet or a pluralityof eyelets. Structures including optical elements are represented by 187a-187 e. While not depicted, optical elements can be present on theeyestays 192 and/or the laces 188. In some configurations, the solestructure can include a sole structure, such as a midsole having acushioning element in part or substantially all of the midsole, and theoptical element can be disposed on an externally-facing side of the solestructure, including on an externally-facing side of the midsole. FIG.1Q(e) is a side view of another exemplary article of athletic footwear.In certain aspects, the upper can comprise one or more containmentelements 194 such as wires, cables or molded polymeric componentextending from the lace structure over portions of the medial andlateral sides of the exemplary article of athletic footwear to the topof the sole structure to provide lockdown of the foot to the solestructure, where the containment element(s) can have an optical element(not shown) disposed on an externally-facing side thereon. In someconfigurations, a rand (not shown) can be present across part or all ofthe biteline 195.

Now having described embodiments of the present disclosure generally,additional details are provided. As has been described herein, thestructural color can be achromatic structural color (e.g., black, white,or neutral gray) or chromatic structural color, where a change in theincident angle of light and/or observation angle can result in a shiftin the structural color observed. The structural color (e.g., chromaticand achromatic) of an article as perceived by a viewer can differ fromthe actual structural color of the article, as the structural colorperceived by a viewer is determined by the actual structural color ofthe article (e.g., the structural color of the light leaving the surfaceof the article), by the presence of optical elements which may absorb,refract, interfere with, or otherwise alter light reflected by thearticle, the viewer's visual acuity, by the viewer's ability to detectthe wavelengths of light reflected by the article, by thecharacteristics of the perceiving eye and brain, by the intensity andtype of light used to illuminate the article (e.g., sunlight,incandescent light, fluorescent light, and the like), as well as otherfactors such as the coloration of the environment of the article. As aresult, the structural color of an object as perceived by a viewer candiffer from the actual achromatic color of the article.

Conventionally, color is imparted to man-made objects by applyingcolored pigments or dyes to the object. Non-structurally coloredmaterials are made of molecules which absorb all but particularwavelengths of light and reflect back the unabsorbed wavelengths, orwhich absorb and emit particular wavelengths of light. In non-structuralcolor, it is the unabsorbed and/or the emitted wavelengths of lightwhich impart the color to the article. As the color-imparting propertyis due to molecule's chemical structure, the only way to remove oreliminate the color is to remove the molecules or alter their chemicalstructure.

More recently, methods of imparting “structural color” to man-madeobjects have been developed. Structural color is color that is produced,at least in part, by microscopically structured surfaces that interferewith visible light contacting the surface. The structural color is colorcaused by physical phenomena including the scattering, refraction,reflection, interference, and/or diffraction of light, unlike colorcaused by the absorption or emission of visible light through coloringmatters. For example, optical phenomena which impart structural colorcan include single- or multi-layer interference, thin-film interference,refraction, dispersion, light scattering, Mie scattering, diffraction,and diffraction grating. As structural color is produced by physicalstructures, destroying or altering the physical structures can eliminateor alter the imparted color. The ability to eliminate color bydestroying the physical structure, such as by grinding or melting anarticle can facilitate recycling and reuse colored materials. In variousaspects described herein, structural color imparted to an article can bevisible to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal colorvision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article, when thestructurally-colored region is illuminated by about 30 lux of sunlight,incandescent light, or fluorescent light. In some such aspects, thestructurally-colored region is at least one square centimeter in size to10s of centimeters in size.

As described herein, structural color (e.g., achromatic structural coloror chromatic structural color) is produced, at least in part, by theoptical element, as opposed to the color being produced solely bypigments and/or dyes. The coloration of an article can be due solely tostructural color (i.e., the article, a colored portion of the article,or a colored outer layer of the article can be substantially free ofpigments and/or dyes). Structural color can also be used in combinationwith pigments and/or dyes, for example, to alter all or a portion of theachromatic structural color.

In another aspect, the optical element can impart a “combined color,”where a “combined color” can be described as having a structural colorcomponent (e.g., achromatic structural color or chromatic structuralcolor) and a non-structural color component. For example, the structuralcolor can be used in combination with pigments and/or dyes to alter allor a portion of the structural color, forming a combined structuralcolor. In a combined color, the structural color component, when viewedwithout the non-structural color component, imparts a structural colorhaving a first structural color and the non-structural color component,when viewed without the structural color component imparts a secondcolor, where the first structural color and the second color differ.Further in this aspect, when viewed together, the first structural colorand the second color combine to form a third combined color, whichdiffers from either the first structural color or the second color, forexample, through shifting the reflectance spectrum of the opticalelement.

In another aspect, an optical element can impart a “modified color,”where a “modified color” can be described as having a structural colorcomponent (e.g., achromatic structural color or chromatic structuralcolor) and a modifier component. In a modified color, the structuralcolor component, when viewed without the modifier component, imparts astructural color and the modifier component, when viewed without thestructural color component, does not impart any color, hue, or chroma.Further in this aspect, when viewed together, the modifier component canexpand, narrow, or shift the range of wavelengths of light reflected orabsorbed by the structural color component. In still another aspect, anoptical element can impart a “modified combined color,” where a“modified combined color” can be described as having a structural colorcomponent (e.g., achromatic structural color or chromatic structuralcolor) having a first structural color, a non-structural color componenthaving a second color, and a modifier component not imparting a colorbut instead functioning to expand, narrow, or shift the range ofwavelengths of light reflected by the combined color formed from thestructural color component and the non-structural color component.

In one aspect, the structural color component (e.g., achromaticstructural color or chromatic structural color), combined colorcomponent, or modified color component disclosed herein is opaque; thatis, it prevents light from passing through any articles to which theyare applied. Further in this aspect, most wavelengths of light areabsorbed by one or more layers of the structural color, combined color,or modified color component, with only a narrow band of light reflected(e.g., if chromatic structural color and would be broad if achromaticstructural color) about the wavelength of maximum reflectance.

“Hue” is commonly used to describe the property of color which isdiscernible based on a dominant wavelength(s) of visible light, and isoften described using terms such as magenta, red, orange, yellow, green,cyan, blue, indigo, violet, etc. or can be described in relation (e.g.,as similar or dissimilar) to one of these. The hue of a color isgenerally considered to be independent of the intensity or lightness ofthe color. For achromatic color, the hue is typically zero and lightnessimparts the white, black, or gray color (or shade) as opposed tochromatic where hue and lightness can have zero or non-zero valuesdepending upon the chromatic color. For example, in the Munsell colorsystem, the properties of color include hue, value (lightness) andchroma (color purity) (e.g., achromatic has a zero or close to zerovalue for hue and chroma, whereas chromatic can have zero or non-zerovalues depending upon the chromatic color). Particular hues are commonlyassociated with particular ranges of wavelengths in the visiblespectrum: wavelengths in the range of about 700 to 635 nanometers areassociated with red, the range of about 635 to 590 nanometers isassociated with orange, the range of about 590 to 560 nanometers isassociated with yellow, the range of about 560 to 520 nanometers isassociated with green, the range of about 520 to 490 nanometers isassociated with cyan, the range of about 490 nanometers to 450nanometers is associated with blue, and the range of about 450 to 400nanometers is associated with violet. As described herein, thatachromatic color can have no hue or chroma and the achromatic color is acolor in which no particular wavelength or hue predominates, as allwavelengths or hues are present in equal parts or substantially equalparts. The achromatic color can be selected from black, white, orneutral gray. The chromatic color can be selected from a red/yellow/blue(RYB) primary color, a RYB secondary color, a RYB tertiary color, a RYBquaternary color, a RYB quinary color, or a chromatic color that is acombination thereof. The chromatic color can be red, yellow, blue,green, orange, purple, or a chromatic color that is a combinationthereof. The chromatic color can be red, orange, yellow, green, blue,indigo, violet, or a chromatic color that is a combination thereof. Thewavelength range can be about 380 to 740 nanometers and can be measuredas a function of absorbance or reflectance, each of which can be used todefine the chromatic or achromatic structural color imparted by theoptical element.

While the optical element may impart a first structural color (e.g.,chromatic or achromatic structural color), the presence of an optionaltextured surface and/or primer layer can alter the structural color orin the alternative have no impact on the first structural color. Otherfactors such as coatings or transparent elements may further alter theperceived achromatic structural color.

In some embodiments, the structural color of a structurally-coloredarticle does not change substantially, if at all, depending upon theangle at which the article is observed or illuminated. In instances suchas this the structural color can be an angle-independent or whenobserved is substantially independent or is independent of the angle ofobservation.

Other factors such as coatings or transparent elements may further alterthe perceived structural color (e.g., chromatic or achromatic structuralcolor). The structural color can be referred to as a “non-shifting”(i.e., the color remains substantially the same, regardless of the angleof observation and/or illumination), or “shifting” (i.e., the structuralcolor varies depending upon the angle of observation and/orillumination). For example, a shift can occur over a small change in theangle of observation and/or illumination (e.g., less than 5 degrees,less than 7 degrees, or less than 10 degrees, but this is dependent uponthe particular optical element) so that achromatic structural color isachromatic over the change in the angle (e.g., shifts from black togray, shifts from gray to white, shifts from black to white, shiftsbetween different shades of gray, shifts between different shades ofwhite, shifts between different shades of black) or so that thechromatic structural color is chromatic over the change in the angle(e.g., shifts from different blues, green, yellows, reds, etc or betweenthese chromatic colors). In another example, the shift can occur over alarger angle of observation and/or illumination (e.g., greater than 10degrees, greater than 12 degrees, greater than 15 degrees but this isdependent upon the particular optical element) so the shift is fromchromatic to achromatic or vice versa. In an aspect, the shift over thesmaller angle can occur and the shift over the larger angle can occur,which can be aesthetically desirable. In this regard, the shifting colorcan change gradually (e.g., as the angle changes by 4 or 5 degrees) overtwo or more shades or colors while being chromatic or achromatic as theangle of observation or illumination changes (e.g., a change of lessthan 5 to about 10 or up to 15 degrees). In as aspect, the shiftingcolor can shift from a achromatic color to a chromatic color uponreaching a threshold change (e.g., an abrupt (e.g., a change of 1 to 3degrees) change from chromatic to achromatic or vice versa or the changeis gradual (e.g., a change of about 4 to 8 degrees) and not abrupt) inangle of observation or illumination (e.g., a change of more than 10,12, or 15 degrees). For example, an abrupt change can occur as the anglechanges from 14 to 15 degrees, whereas a gradual change can occur as theangle changes from 13 to 17 degrees. Thus, the shifting of thestructural color can change gradually or abruptly as the angle ofobservation or illumination changes, which can be determined by thedesign of the optical element.

In an example, the shift from achromatic to chromatic structural colorcan as the angle of observation or illumination changes from 13 to 15degree (an abrupt change). Optionally, as the angle of observation orillumination changes from 3 to 8 degrees, there is a shift in theachromatic color from black to neutral gray. Optionally, as the angle ofobservation or illumination changes from 16 to 20 degrees, there is ashift in the chromatic color from blue to blue green.

In another example, the shift from achromatic to chromatic structuralcolor can as the angle of observation or illumination changes from 12 to17 degree (an gradual change). Optionally, as the angle of observationor illumination changes from 3 to 8 degrees, there is a shift in theachromatic color from white to neutral gray. Optionally, as the angle ofobservation or illumination changes from 17 to 22 degrees, there is ashift in the chromatic color from blue to blue green to green.

These examples simply illustrate that the shifting can be varied anddiverse and the optical element can be designed according to the desiredoutcome.

As discussed above, the color of a structurally-colored article (e.g.,an article include structural color) can be independent of or varydepending upon the angle at which the structurally-colored article isobserved or illuminated. As used herein, the “angle” of illumination orviewing is the angle measured from an axis or plane that is orthogonalto the surface. The viewing or illuminating angles can be set betweenabout 0 and 180 degrees. The viewing or illuminating angles can be setat 0 degrees, 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees,60 degrees, and −15 degrees (as well as increments of 1 within theranges described above and herein) and the color can be measured using acolorimeter or spectrophotometer (e.g., Konica Minolta), which focuseson a particular area of the article to measure the color. The viewing orilluminating angles can be set at 0 degrees, 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees, 90 degrees, 105degrees, 120 degrees, 135 degrees, 150 degrees, 165 degrees, 180degrees, 195 degrees, 210 degrees, 225 degrees, 240 degrees, 255degrees, 270 degrees, 285 degrees, 300 degrees, 315 degrees, 330degrees, and 345 degrees and the color can be measured using acolorimeter or spectrophotometer

Various methodologies for defining color coordinate systems exist. Oneexample is L*a*b* color space, where, for a given illuminationcondition, L* is a value for lightness, and a* and b* are values forcolor-opponent dimensions based on the CIE coordinates (CIE 1976 colorspace or CIELAB) (e.g., a* and b* are 0 or close to 0). In anembodiment, a structural color (e.g., chromatic structural color orachromatic structural color) can be considered as having a “single”color when the change in color measured for the article is within about10 percent or within about 5 percent of the total scale of the a* or b*coordinate of the L*a*b* scale (CIE 1976 color space) at three or moremeasured observation or illumination angles selected from measured atobservation or illumination angles of 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees,45 degrees, 60 degrees, and −15 degrees.

Another example of a color scale is the CIELCH color space, where, for agiven illumination condition, L* is a value for lightness, C* is a valuefor chroma, and h° denotes a hue as an angular measurement (e.g., C* andh° are 0 or close to 0). In an embodiment, a structural color (e.g.,chromatic structural color or achromatic structural color) can beconsidered as having a “single” color when the color measured for thearticle is less than 10 degrees different or less than 5 degreesdifferent at the h° angular coordinate of the CIELCH color space, atthree or more measured observation or illumination angles selected frommeasured at observation or illumination angles of 0 degrees, 15 degrees,30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and −15 degrees. In certainembodiments, colors which, when measured and assigned values in theCIELCH system that vary by at least 45 degrees in the h° measurements,are considered to be different colors.

Another system for characterizing color includes the “PANTONE” MatchingSystem (Pantone LLC, Carlstadt, N.J., USA), which provides a visualcolor standard system to provide an accurate method for selecting,specifying, broadcasting, and matching colors through any medium. In anexample, a first optical element and a second optical element (or thesame optical element at different angles) can be said to have the samecolor when the color measured for each optical element is within acertain number of adjacent standards, e.g., within 20 adjacent PANTONEstandards, at three or more measured observation or illumination anglesselected from 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees,and 75 degrees. In an alternative aspect, the first optical element andthe second optical element (or a single optical element at differentangles) can be said to have different colors when the color measured foreach optical element is outside a certain number of adjacent standards,e.g., at least 20 adjacent PANTONE standards or farther apart, at threeor more measured observation or illumination angles selected from 0degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and 75 degrees.In another aspect, an optical element can be said to be single colorwhen all areas of the optical element have the same PANTONE color asdefined herein, or can be multi-colored when at least two areas of theoptical element have different PANTONE colors. In another aspect, asingle optical element can be said to have a non-shifting color if itexhibits the same PANTONE color as defined herein at three or moremeasured observation or illumination angles (e.g., 0 degrees, 15degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and −15 degrees). In analternative aspect, a single optical element can be said to be shiftingif it exhibits two, three, or four different PANTONE colors as definedherein at two or more measured observation or illumination angles (e.g.,0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and −15degrees).

Another example of a color scale is the Natural Color System® or NCS,which is built on principles of human physiological vision and describescolor by using color similarity relationships. The NCS is based on thepremise that the human visual system consists of six elementary colorprecepts, or colors that can be challenging to define perceptually interms of other colors. These colors consist of three pairs: (i) theachromatic colors of black (S) and white (W), (ii) the opposing primarycolor pair of red (R) and green (G), and (iii) the opposing primarycolor pair of yellow (Y) and blue (B). In the NCS, any color that can beperceived by the human eye can be similar to the two achromatic colorsand a maximum of two non-opposing primary colors. Thus, for example, aperceived color can have similarities to red and blue but not to red andgreen. NCS descriptions of colors are useful for colors that belong tothe surfaces of materials, so long as the surfaces are not fluorescent,translucent, luminescent, or the like; the NCS does not encompass othervisual properties of the surface such as, for example, gloss andtexture.

The NCS color space is a three dimensional model consisting of a flatcircle at which the four primary colors are positioned in order at 0degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees. For example, ifyellow is at 0 degrees, red is at 90 degrees, blue is at 180 degrees,and green is at 270 degrees. White is represented above the circle andblack below such that a hue triangle forms between the black/white(grayscale) axis and any point on the circle.

Percentage “blackness” (s) is defined in the NCS as a color's similarityto the elementary color black. Percentage “chromaticness” (c) representssimilarity to the most saturated color in a hue triangle. “Hue” (ϕ) inthe NCS, meanwhile, represents similarity of a color to one or at mosttwo non-opposing primary colors. Blackness and chromaticness add up to avalue less than or equal to 100 percent; any remaining value is referredto as “whiteness” (w) of a color. In some cases, the NCS can be used tofurther describe “saturation” (m), a value from 0 to 1 determined interms of chromaticness and whiteness (e.g., m=c/(w+c)). NCS can furtherbe used to describe “lightness” (v), a description of whether the colorcontains more of the achromatic elementary colors black or white. A pureblack article would have a lightness of 0 and a pure white article wouldhave a lightness of 1. Purely neutral grays (c=0) have lightness definedby v=(100−s)/100, while chromatic colors are first compared to areference scale of grays and lightness is then calculated as for grays.

NCS notation takes the generic form sc-AϕB, where sc defines “nuance,”ss is the percent blackness and cc refers to the chromaticity; A and Bare the two primary colors to which the color relates; and ϕ is ameasure of where a color falls between A and B. Thus, a color (e.g.,orange) that has equal amounts of yellow and red could be representedsuch that AϕB=Y50R (e.g., yellow with 50 percent red), whereas a colorhaving relatively more red than yellow is represented such thatAϕB=Y60R, Y70R, Y80R, Y90R, or the like. The color having equal amountsof yellow and red with a relatively low (10 percent) amount of darknessand a medium (50 percent) level of chromaticity would thus berepresented as 1050-Y50R. In this system, neutral colors having noprimary color components are represented by sc-N, where sc is defined inthe same manner as with a non-neutral color and N indicates neutrality,while a pure color would have a notation such as, for example, 3050-B(for a blue with 30 percent darkness and 50 percent chromaticity). Acapital “S” in front of the notation indicates that a value was presentin the NCS 1950 Standard, a reduced set of samples. As of 2004, the NCSsystem contains 1950 standard colors.

The NCS is more fully described in ASTM E2970-15, “Standard Practice forSpecifying Color by the Natural Colour System (NCS).” Although the NCSis based on human perception and other color scales such as the CIELABor CIELCH spaces may be based on physical properties of objects, NCS andCIE tristimulus values are interconvertible.

In an example, a first optical element and a second optical element (orthe same optical element at different angles) can be considered as beingthe same structural color when the structural colors measured for eachoptical element are within a certain number of adjacent standards, e.g.,within 20 adjacent NCS values, at three or more measured observation orillumination angles selected from 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45degrees, 60 degrees, and −15 degrees. In another example, the firstoptical element and the second optical element (or the same opticalelement at different angles) can be considered as being differentstructural colors when the colors measured for each optical element areoutside a certain number of adjacent standards, e.g., farther apart thanat least 20 adjacent NCS values, at three or more measured observationor illumination angles selected from 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees,45 degrees, 60 degrees, and −15 degrees. In another aspect, an opticalelement can be said to be a single structural color when all areas ofthe optical element have the same NCS color as defined herein, or can bemulti-colored when at least two areas of the optical element havedifferent NCS colors. In another aspect, a single optical element can besaid to have a non-shifting color if it exhibits the same NCS color asdefined herein at three or more measured observation or illuminationangles (e.g., 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees,and −15 degrees). In an alternative aspect, a single optical element canbe said to be shifting color if it exhibits two, three, or fourdifferent NCS colors as defined herein at two or more measuredobservation or illumination angles (e.g., 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and −15 degrees).

The method of making articles including the optical element (e.g.,structurally colored article) can include disposing (e.g., affixing,attaching, bonding, fastening, joining, appending, connecting, binding)the optical element onto an article (e.g., an article of footwear, anarticle of apparel, an article of sporting equipment, etc.). The articleincludes a component, and the component has a surface upon which theoptical element can be disposed. The surface of the article can be madeof a material such as a thermoplastic material or thermoset material, asdescribed herein. For example, the article has a surface including athermoplastic material (i.e., a first thermoplastic material), forexample an externally-facing surface of the component or aninternally-facing surface of the component (e.g., an externally-facingsurface or an internally-facing surface a bladder). The optical elementcan be disposed onto the thermoplastic material, for example.

In an aspect, the temperature of at least a portion of the first surfaceof the article including the thermoplastic material is increased to atemperature at or above creep relaxation temperature (Tcr), Vicatsoftening temperature (Tvs), heat deflection temperature (Thd), and/ormelting temperature (Tm) of the thermoplastic material, for example tosoften or melt the thermoplastic material. The temperature can beincreased to a temperature at or above the creep relaxation temperature.The temperature can be increased to a temperature at or above the Vicatsoftening temperature. The temperature can be increased to a temperatureat or above the heat deflection temperature. The temperature can beincreased to a temperature at or above the melting temperature. Whilethe temperature of the at least a portion of the first side of thearticle is at or above the increased temperature (e.g., at or above thecreep relaxation temperature, the heat deflection temperature, the Vicatsoftening temperature, or the melting temperature of the thermoplasticmaterial), the optical element is affixed to the thermoplastic materialwithin the at least a portion of the first side of the article.Following the affixing, the temperature of the thermoplastic material isdecreased to a temperature below its creep relaxation temperature to atleast partially re-solidify the thermoplastic material. Thethermoplastic material can be actively cooled (e.g., removing the sourcethat increases the temperature and actively (e.g., flowing cooler gasadjacent the article reducing the temperature of the thermoplasticmaterial) or passively cooled (e.g., removing the source that increasesthe temperature and allowing the thermoplastic layer to cool on itsown).

The method of making the article can include disposing (e.g., affixing,attaching, bonding, fastening, joining, appending, connecting, binding,which includes operably disposing etc.) the optical element onto asurface of an article (e.g., an article of footwear, an article ofapparel, an article of sporting equipment, etc.) or a surface of acomponent of an article. The article can include a component, and thecomponent can include the surface upon which the optical element is bedisposed. The surface of the article can be made of a material such as athermoplastic material or thermoset material, as described herein. Forexample, the article can have a surface including a thermoplasticmaterial (i.e., a first thermoplastic material), for example anexternally-facing surface of the component or article or aninternally-facing surface of the component or article (e.g., anexternally-facing surface or an internally-facing surface a bladder).The optical element can be disposed onto the thermoplastic material, forexample.

Now having described color and other aspects generally, additionaldetails regarding the optical element are provided. As described herein,the article includes the optical element. The optical element caninclude at least one reflective layer (e.g., base and/or non-basereflective layers) and/or at least one constituent layer. The opticalelement that can be or include a single layer reflector, a single layerfilter, or multilayer reflector or a multilayer filter. The opticalelement can function to modify the light that impinges thereupon so thatstructural color is imparted to the article. The optical element canalso optionally include one or more additional layers (e.g., aprotective layer, the textured layer, a polymer layer, and the like).The optical element can have a thickness of about 100 to about 1,500nanometers, about 100 to about 1,200 nanometers, about 100 to about 700nanometers, or of about 200 to about 500 nanometers.

The optical element can be an optical element, an organic opticalelement, or a mixed inorganic/organic optical element, where the layers(e.g., reflective layer, constituent layer) can be made of these typesof materials. The organic optical element has at least one layer andthat layer is made of an organic material. The organic material caninclude a polymer, such as those described herein. The organic materialis made of a non-metal or non-metal oxide material. The organic materialthat does not include a metal or metal oxide. The organic material ismade of a polymeric material that does not include a metal or metaloxide.

The inorganic optical element has at least one layer and that layer ismade of a non-organic material. As described in detail herein, thenon-organic material can be a metal or metal oxide. The non-organicmaterial does not include any organic material.

The optical element can be a mixed inorganic/organic optical element,meaning that one or more of the layers can be made of an inorganicmaterial, one or more layers can be made of an organic material, and/orone or more layers can be made of a layer of a mixture of inorganic andorganic materials (e.g., a polymer include metal or metal oxideparticles (e.g., micro- or nano-particles).

The optical element has a first side (including the outer surface) and asecond side opposing the first side (including the opposing outersurface), where the first side or the second side is adjacent thearticle. For example, when the optical element is used in conjunctionwith a component having internally-facing and externally-facingsurfaces, such as a film or a bladder, the first side of the opticalelement can be disposed on the internally-facing surface of thecomponent, such as in the following order: second side of the opticalelement/core of the optical element/first side of the opticalelement/internally-facing surface of the component/core of thecomponent/externally-facing surface of the component. Alternatively, thesecond side the optical element can be disposed on the internally-facingsurface of the component, such as in the following order: first side ofthe optical element/core of the optical element/second side of theoptical element/internally-facing surface of the component/core of thecomponent wall/externally-facing surface of the component. In anotherexample, the first side of the optical element can be disposed on theexternally-facing surface of the component, such as in the followingorder: internally-facing surface of the component/core of thecomponent/externally-facing surface of the component/first side of theoptical element/core of the optical element/second side of the opticalelement. Similarly, the second side of the optical element can bedisposed on the externally-facing surface of the component, such as inthe following order: internally-facing surface of the component/core ofthe component/externally-facing surface of the component/second side ofthe optical element/core of the optical element/first side of theoptical element. In examples where the optional textured surface, thetextured surface can be located at the interface between the surface ofthe component and a side of the optical element.

In regard to the components of the optical element, when the opticalelement is on and visible from an outside surface of the article, thebase reflective layer is between the at least two constituent layers andthe surface. When the optical element is on an inside surface of thearticle and is visible through an outside surface of the article, the atleast two constituent layers are between the base reflective layer andthe surface.

The optical element or layers or portions thereof (e.g., reflectivelayer, constituent layer) can be formed using known techniques such asphysical vapor deposition, electron beam deposition, atomic layerdeposition, molecular beam epitaxy, cathodic arc deposition, pulsedlaser deposition, sputtering deposition (e.g., radio frequency, directcurrent, reactive, non-reactive), chemical vapor deposition,plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, low pressure chemical vapordeposition and wet chemistry techniques such as layer-by-layerdeposition, sol-gel deposition, Langmuir blodgett, and the like. Thetemperature of the first side can be adjusted using the technique toform the optical element and/or a separate system to adjust thetemperature.

The optical element can comprise a single layer reflector or amultilayer reflector (e.g., reflective layer(s) and/or constituentlayer(s)). The multilayer reflector can be configured to have a certainreflectivity for a range of wavelengths depending, at least in part, onthe material selection, thickness and number of the layers of themultilayer reflector. In other words, one can carefully select thematerials, thicknesses, and numbers of the layers of a multilayerreflector and optionally its interaction with one or more other layers,so that it can reflect and/or absorb a wavelength range of light toproduce a desired structural color or shift.

The optical element can include at least one reflective layer and/or atleast two adjacent constituent layers, where the adjacent constituentlayers (e.g., and the non-base reflective layer(s) when present) havedifferent refractive indices. The difference in the index of refractionof adjacent layers of the constituent layer, and the reflective layerwhen present, can be about 0.0001 to about 50 percent, about 0.1 toabout 40 percent, about 0.1 to about 30 percent, about 0.1 to about 20percent, about 0.1 to about 10 percent (and other ranges there between(e.g., the ranges can be in increments of 0.0001 to 5 percent)). Theindex of refraction depends at least in part upon the material of theconstituent and can range from about 1.3 to about 2.6.

The combination of the reflective(s) layer and/or the constituentlayer(s) can include 1 to 100 layers, 1 to 50, 1 to 25 layer, 1 to 15layers, 1 to 10 layers, 2 to 4 layers, 2 to 20 layers, 2 to 15, 2 to 10layer, 2 to 6 layers, or 2 to 4 layers. Each of the reflective layer(s)or the constituent layer(s) can have a thickness that is aboutone-fourth of the wavelength of light to be reflected to produce thedesired structural color or shift. Each of the reflective layer(s) orthe constituent layer(s) can have a thickness of about 10 to about 500nanometers, 10 to 100 nanometers, 10 to 150 nanometers, about 50 to 150nanometers, about 50 to 200 nanometers, or about 90 to about 200nanometers. The optical element can have at least two constituentlayers, where adjacent constituent layers have different thicknesses andoptionally the same or different refractive indices.

The optical element can comprise a single layer filter or a multilayerfilter. The multilayer filter destructively interferes with light thatimpinges upon the article, where the destructive interference of thelight and optionally interaction with one or more other layers orstructures of the optical element (e.g., a multilayer reflector, atextured structure) impart the structural color or shift. In thisregard, the layers of the multilayer filter can be designed (e.g.,material selection, thickness, number of layer, and the like) so thatcertain wavelength range is reflected and/or absorbed to a certaindegree to impart the desired structural color or shift.

The reflective layer(s) and/or constituent layer(s) can include multiplelayers where each layer independently comprises a material selectedfrom: the transition metals, the metalloids, the lanthanides, and theactinides, as well as nitrides, oxynitrides, sulfides, sulfates,selenides, and tellurides of these, as well as others described hereinsuch as stainless steel. The reflective layer(s) and/or constituentlayer(s) can be titanium, aluminum, silver, zirconium, chromium,magnesium, silicon, gold, platinum, and a combination thereof as well asoxides of each. The material for the constituent layer(s) can beselected to provide an index of refraction that when optionally combinedwith the other layers of the optical element achieves the desiredresult. One or more layers of the constituent layer can be made ofliquid crystals. Each layer of the constituent layer can be made ofliquid crystals. One or more layers of the constituent layer can be madeof a material such as: silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, zinc sulfide,magnesium fluoride, tantalum pentoxide, aluminum oxide, or a combinationthereof. Each layer of the constituent layer can be made of a materialsuch as: silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, zinc sulfide, magnesiumfluoride, tantalum pentoxide, aluminum oxide, or a combination thereof.To improve adhesion between layers, a metal layer is adjacent a metaloxide layer comprising the same metal. For example, Ti and TiO_(x) canbe positioned adjacent one another to improve adhesion.

The optical element can be uncolored (e.g., no pigments or dyes added tothe structure or its layers), colored (e.g., pigments and/or dyes areadded to the structure or its layers. The surface of the component uponwhich the optical element is disposed can be uncolored (e.g., nopigments or dyes added to the material), colored (e.g., pigments and/ordyes are added to the material), reflective, and/or transparent (e.g.,percent transmittance of about 75 percent or more).

The reflective layer(s) and/or the constituent layer(s) can be formed ina layer-by-layer manner, where each layer has a different index ofrefraction. Each layer can have a textured topography or a threedimensional flat planar surface or substantially three dimensional flatplanar surface. Each of the reflective layer(s) and/or the constituentlayer(s) can be formed using known techniques such as those describedabove and herein.

As mentioned above, the optical element can include one or more layersin addition to the reflective layer(s) and the constituent layer(s). Theoptical element has a first side (e.g., the side having a surface) and asecond side (e.g., the side having a surface), where the first side orthe second side is adjacent the surface of the component. The one ormore other layers of the optical element can be on the first side and/orthe second side of the optical element. For example, the optical elementcan include the top layer (e.g., non-stoichiometric metal layer), aprotective layer and/or a polymeric layer such as a thermoplasticpolymeric layer, where the protective layer and/or the polymeric layercan be on one or both of the first side and the second side of theoptical element. One or more of the optional other layers can include atextured surface. Alternatively or in addition, one or more of thereflective layer(s) and/or one or more constituent layer(s) of theoptical element can include a textured surface.

A protective layer can be disposed on the first and/or second side ofthe constituent layer to protect the constituent layer. The protectivelayer is more durable or more abrasion resistant than the constituentlayer. The protective layer is optically transparent to visible light.The protective layer can be on the first side of the optical element toprotect the constituent layer. All or a portion of the protective layercan include a dye or pigment in order to alter an appearance of thestructural color or shift. The protective layer can include silicondioxide, glass, combinations of metal oxides, or mixtures of polymers.The protective layer can have a thickness of about 3 nanometers to about1 millimeter.

The protective layer can be formed using physical vapor deposition,chemical vapor deposition, pulsed laser deposition, evaporativedeposition, sputtering deposition (e.g., radio frequency, directcurrent, reactive, non-reactive), plasma enhanced chemical vapordeposition, electron beam deposition, cathodic arc deposition, lowpressure chemical vapor deposition and wet chemistry techniques such aslayer by layer deposition, sol-gel deposition, Langmuir blodgett, andthe like. Alternatively or in addition, the protective layer can beapplied by spray coating, dip coating, brushing, spin coating, doctorblade coating, and the like.

A polymeric layer can be disposed on the first and/or the second side ofthe optical element. The polymeric layer can be used to dispose theoptical element onto an article, such as, for example, when the articledoes not include a thermoplastic material to adhere the optical element.The polymeric layer can comprise a polymeric adhesive material, such asa hot melt adhesive. The polymeric layer can be a thermoplastic materialand can include one or more layers. The thermoplastic material can beany one of the thermoplastic material described herein. The polymericlayer can be applied using various methodologies, such as spin coating,dip coating, doctor blade coating, and so on. The polymeric layer canhave a thickness of about 3 nanometer to about 1 millimeter.

As described above, one or more embodiments of the present disclosureprovide articles that incorporate the optical element (e.g., single ormultilayer structures) on a side of a component of the article to impartstructural color or shift. The optical element can be disposed onto thethermoplastic material of the side of the article, and the side of thearticle can include a textile, including a textile comprising thethermoplastic material.

Having described aspects, additional details will now be described forthe optional textured surface. As described herein, the componentincludes the optical element and the optical element can include atleast one reflective layer and/or at least one constituent layer andoptionally a textured surface. The textured surface can be a surface ofa textured structure or a textured layer. The textured surface may beprovided as part of the optical element. For example, the opticalelement may comprise a textured layer or a textured structure thatcomprises the textured surface. The textured surface may be formed onthe first or second side of the optical element. For example, a side ofthe reflective layer and/or the constituent layer may be formed ormodified to provide a textured surface, or a textured layer or texturedstructure can be affixed to the first or second side of the opticalelement. The textured surface may be provided as part of the componentto which the optical element is disposed. For example, the opticalelement may be disposed onto the surface of the component where thesurface of the component is a textured surface, or the surface of thecomponent includes a textured structure or a textured layer affixed toit.

The textured surface (or a textured structure or textured layerincluding the textured surface) may be provided as a feature on or partof another medium, such as a transfer medium, and imparted to a side orlayer of the optical element or to the surface of the component. Forexample, a mirror image or relief form of the textured surface may beprovided on the side of a transfer medium, and the transfer mediumcontacts a side of the optical element or the surface of the componentin a way that imparts the textured surface to the optical element orarticle. While the various embodiments herein may be described withrespect to a textured surface of the optical element, it will beunderstood that the features of the textured surface, or a texturedstructure or textured layer, may be imparted in any of these ways.

The textured surface can contribute to the structural color resultingfrom the optical element and/or the shift in the structural color (e.g.,from achromatic to chromatic structural color or vice versa) or in thealternative may not contribute to the structural color and/or shift inthe structural color. As described herein, structural coloration isimparted, at least in part, due to optical effects caused by physicalphenomena such as scattering, diffraction, reflection, interference orunequal refraction of light rays from an optical element. The texturedsurface (or its mirror image or relief) can include a plurality ofprofile features and flat or planar areas. The plurality of profilefeatures included in the textured surface, including their size, shape,orientation, spatial arrangement, etc., can affect the light scattering,diffraction, reflection, interference and/or refraction resulting fromthe optical element. The flat or planar areas included in the texturedsurface, including their size, shape, orientation, spatial arrangement,etc., can affect the light scattering, diffraction, reflection,interference and/or refraction resulting from the optical element. Thedesired structural color (or color shift) can be designed, at least inpart, by adjusting one or more of properties of the profile featuresand/or flat or planar areas of the textured surface.

The profile features can extend from a side of the flat areas, so as toprovide the appearance of projections and/or depressions therein. A flatarea can be a flat planar area. A profile feature may include variouscombinations of projections and depressions. For example, a profilefeature may include a projection with one or more depressions therein, adepression with one or more projections therein, a projection with oneor more further projections thereon, a depression with one or morefurther depressions therein, and the like. The flat areas do not have tobe completely flat and can include texture, roughness, and the like. Thetexture of the flat areas may not contribute much, if any, to theimparted structural color and/or color shift. Or the texture of the flatareas may contribute to the imparted structural color and/or colorshift. For clarity, the profile features and flat areas are described inreference to the profile features extending above the flat areas, butthe inverse (e.g., dimensions, shapes, and the like) can apply when theprofile features are depressions in the textured surface.

The textured surface can comprise a thermoplastic material. The profilefeatures and the flat areas can be formed using a thermoplasticmaterial. For example, when the thermoplastic material is heated aboveits softening temperature a textured surface can be formed in thethermoplastic material such as by molding, stamping, printing,compressing, cutting, etching, vacuum forming, etc., the thermoplasticmaterial to form profile features and flat areas therein. The texturedsurface can be imparted on a side of a thermoplastic material. Thetextured surface can be formed in a layer of thermoplastic material. Theprofile features and the flat areas can be made of the samethermoplastic material or a different thermoplastic material.

The textured surface generally has a length dimension extending along anx-axis, and a width dimension extending along a z-axis, and a thicknessdimension extending along a y-axis. The textured surface has a generallyplanar portion extending in a first plane that extends along the x-axisand the z-axis. A profile feature can extend outward from the firstplane, so as to extend above or below the plane x. A profile feature mayextend generally orthogonal to the first plane, or at an angle greaterto or less than 90 degrees to the first plane.

The dimensional measurements in reference to the profile features (e.g.,length, width, height, diameter, and the like) described herein refer toan average dimensional measurement of profile features in 1 squarecentimeter in the optical element.

The dimension (e.g., length, width, height, diameter, depending upon theshape of the profile feature) of each profile feature can be within thenanometer to micrometer range. A textured surface can have a profilefeature and/or flat area with a dimension of about 10 nanometers toabout 500 micrometers. The profile feature can have dimensions in thenanometer range, e.g., from about 10 nanometers to about 1000nanometers. All of the dimensions of the profile feature (e.g., length,width, height, diameter, depending on the geometry) can be in thenanometer range, e.g., from about 10 nanometers to about 1000nanometers. The textured surface can have a plurality of profilefeatures having dimensions that are 1 micrometer or less. In thiscontext, the phrase “plurality of the profile features” is meant to meanthat about 50 percent or more, about 60 percent or more, about 70percent or more, about 80 percent or more, about 90 percent or more, orabout 99 percent or more of the profile features have a dimension inthis range. The profile features can have a ratio of width:height and/orlength:height dimensions of about 1:2 and 1:100, or 1:5 and 1:50, or 1:5and 1:10.

The textured surface can have a profile feature and/or flat area with adimension within the micrometer range of dimensions. A textured surfacecan have a profile feature and/or flat area with a dimension of about 1micrometer to about 500 micrometers. All of the dimensions of theprofile feature (e.g., length, width, height, diameter, depending on thegeometry) can be in the micrometer range, e.g., from about 1 micrometerto about 500 micrometers. The textured surface can have a plurality ofprofile features having dimensions that are from about 1 micrometer toabout 500 micrometer. In this context, the phrase “plurality of theprofile features” is meant to mean that about 50 percent or more, about60 percent or more, about 70 percent or more, about 80 percent or more,about 90 percent or more, or about 99 percent or more of the profilefeatures have a dimension in this range. The height of the profilefeatures (or depth if depressions) can be about 0.1 and 50 micrometers,about 1 to 5 micrometers, or 2 to 3 micrometers. The profile featurescan have a ratio of width:height and/or length:height dimensions ofabout 1:2 and 1:100, or 1:5 and 1:50, or 1:5 and 1:10.

A textured surface can have a plurality of profile features having amixture of size dimensions within the nanometer to micrometer range(e.g., a portion of the profile features are on the nanometer scale anda portion of the profile features are on the micrometer scale). Atextured surface can have a plurality of profile features having amixture of dimensional ratios. The textured surface can have a profilefeature having one or more nanometer-scale projections or depressions ona micrometer-scale projection or depression.

The profile feature can have height and width dimensions that are withina factor of three of each other (0.33w≤h≤3w where w is the width and his the height of the profile feature) and/or height and lengthdimensions that are within a factor of three of each other (0.33l≤h≤3lwhere l is the length and h is the height of the profile feature). Theprofile feature can have a ratio of length:width that is from about 1:3to about 3:1, or about 1:2 to about 2:1, or about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1,or about 1:1.2 to about 1.2:1, or about 1:1. The width and length of theprofile features can be substantially the same or different.

In another aspect, the textured surface can have a profile featureand/or flat area with at least one dimension in the mid-micrometer rangeand higher (e.g., greater than 500 micrometers). The profile feature canhave at least one dimension (e.g., the largest dimension such as length,width, height, diameter, and the like depending upon the geometry orshape of the profile feature) of greater than 500 micrometers, greaterthan 600 micrometers, greater than 700 micrometers, greater than 800micrometers, greater than 900 micrometers, greater than 1000micrometers, greater than 2 millimeters, greater than 10 millimeters, ormore. For example, the largest dimension of the profile feature canrange from about 600 micrometers to about 2000 micrometers, or about 650micrometers to about 1500 micrometers, or about 700 micrometers to about1000 micrometers. At least one or more of the dimensions of the profilefeature (e.g., length, width, height, diameter, depending on thegeometry) can be in the micrometer range, while one or more of the otherdimensions can be in the nanometer to micrometer range (e.g., less than500 micrometers, less than 100 micrometers, less than 10 micrometers, orless than 1 micrometer). The textured surface can have a plurality ofprofile features having at least one dimension that is in themid-micrometer or more range (e.g., 500 micrometers or more). In thiscontext, the phrase “plurality of the profile features” is meant to meanthat about 50 percent or more, about 60 percent or more, about 70percent or more, about 80 percent or more, about 90 percent or more, orabout 99 percent or more of the profile features have at least onedimension that is greater than 500 micrometers. In particular, at leastone of the length and width of the profile feature is greater than 500micrometers or both the length and the width of the profile feature isgreater than 500 micrometers. In another example, the diameter of theprofile feature is greater than 500 micrometers. In another example,when the profile feature is an irregular shape, the longest dimension isgreater than 500 micrometers.

In aspects, the height of the profile features can be greater than 50micrometers. In this context, the phrase “plurality of the profilefeatures” is meant to mean that about 50 percent or more, about 60percent or more, about 70 percent or more, about 80 percent or more,about 90 percent or more, or about 99 percent or more of the profilefeatures have at height that is greater than 50 micrometers. The heightof the profile feature can be 50 micrometers, about 60 micrometers,about 70 micrometers, about 80 micrometers, about 90 micrometers, orabout 100 micrometers to about 60 micrometers, about 70 micrometers,about 80 micrometers, about 90 micrometers, about 100 micrometers, about150 micrometers, about 250 micrometers, about 500 micrometers or more.For example, the ranges can include 50 micrometers to 500 micrometers,about 60 micrometers to 250 micrometers, about 60 micrometers to about150 micrometers, and the like. One or more of the other dimensions(e.g., length, width, diameter, or the like) can be in the nanometer tomicrometer range (e.g., less than 500 micrometers, less than 100micrometers, less than 10 micrometers, or less than 1 micrometer). Inparticular, at least one of the length and width of the profile featureis less than 500 micrometers or both the length and the width of theprofile feature is less than 500 micrometers, while the height isgreater than 50 micrometers. One or more of the other dimensions (e.g.,length, width, diameter, or the like) can be in the micrometer tomillimeter range (e.g., greater than 500 micrometers to 10 millimeters).

The dimension (e.g., length, width, height, diameter, depending upon theshape of the profile feature) of each profile feature can be within thenanometer to micrometer range. The textured surface can have a profilefeature and/or flat area with a dimension of about 10 nanometers toabout 500 micrometers or higher (e.g., about 1 millimeter, about 2millimeters, about 5 millimeters, or about 10 millimeters). At least oneof the dimensions of the profile feature (e.g., length, width, height,diameter, depending on the geometry) can be in the nanometer range(e.g., from about 10 nanometers to about 1000 nanometers), while atleast one other dimension (e.g., length, width, height, diameter,depending on the geometry) can be in the micrometer range (e.g., 5micrometers to 500 micrometers or more (e.g., about 1 to 10millimeters)). The textured surface can have a plurality of profilefeatures having at least one dimension in the nanometer range (e.g.,about 10 to 1000 nanometers) and the other in the micrometer range(e.g., 5 micrometers to 500 micrometers or more). In this context, thephrase “plurality of the profile features” is meant to mean that about50 percent or more, about 60 percent or more, about 70 percent or more,about 80 percent or more, about 90 percent or more, or about 99 percentor more of the profile features have at least one dimension in thenanometer range and at least one dimension in the micrometer range. Inparticular, at least one of the length and width of the profile featureis in the nanometer range, while the other of the length and the widthof the profile feature is in the micrometer range.

In aspects, the height of the profile features can be greater than 250nanometers. In this context, the phrase “plurality of the profilefeatures” is meant to mean that about 50 percent or more, about 60percent or more, about 70 percent or more, about 80 percent or more,about 90 percent or more, or about 99 percent or more of the profilefeatures have at height that is greater than 250 nanometers. The heightof the profile feature can be 250 nanometers, about 300 nanometers,about 400 nanometers, or about 500 nanometers, to about 300 nanometers,about 400 nanometers, about 500 nanometers, or about 1000 nanometers ormore. For example, the range can be 250 nanometers to about 1000nanometers, about 300 nanometers to 500 nanometers, about 400 nanometersto about 1000 nanometers, and the like. One or more of the otherdimensions (e.g., length, width, diameter, or the like) can be in themicrometer to millimeter range (e.g., greater than 500 micrometers to 10millimeters). In particular, at least one of the length and width of theprofile feature is in the nanometer range (e.g., about 10 to 1000nanometers) and the other in the micrometer range (e.g., 5 micrometersto 500 micrometers or more), while the height is greater than 250nanometers.

The profile features can have a certain spatial arrangement. The spatialarrangement of the profile features may be uniform, such as spacedevenly apart or forming a pattern. The spatial arrangement can berandom. Adjacent profile features can be about 10 to 500 nanometersapart, about 100 to 1000 nanometers apart, about 1 to 100 micrometersapart or about 5 to 100 micrometers apart. Adjacent profile features canoverlap one another or be adjacent one another so little or no flatregions are positioned there between. The desired spacing can depend, atleast in part, on the size and/or shape of the profile structures andthe desired structural color and/or color shift.

The profile features can have a certain cross-sectional shape (withrespect to a plane parallel the first plane). The textured surface canhave a plurality of profile features having the same or similarcross-sectional shape. The textured surface has a plurality of profilefeatures having a mixture of different cross-sectional shapes. Thecross-sectional shapes of the profile features can include polygonal(e.g., square or triangle or rectangle cross section), circular,semi-circular, tubular, oval, random, high and low aspect ratios,overlapping profile features, and the like.

The profile feature (e.g., about 10 nanometers to 500 micrometers) caninclude an upper, flat surface. The profile feature (e.g., about 10nanometers to 500 micrometers) can include an upper, concavely curvedsurface. The concave curved surface may extend symmetrically either sideof an uppermost point. The concave curved surface may extendsymmetrically across only 50 percent of the uppermost point. The profilefeature (e.g., about 10 nanometers to 500 micrometers) can include anupper, convexly curved surface. The curved surface may extendsymmetrically either side of an uppermost point. The curved surface mayextend symmetrically across only 50 percent of the uppermost point.

The profile feature can include protrusions from the textured surface.The profile feature can include indents (hollow areas) formed in thetextured surface. The profile feature can have a smooth, curved shape(e.g., a polygonal cross-section with curved corners).

The profile features (whether protrusions or depressions) can beapproximately conical or frusto-conical (i.e. the projections or indentsmay have horizontally or diagonally flattened tops) or have anapproximately part-spherical surface (e.g., a convex or concave surfacerespectively having a substantially even radius of curvature).

The profile features may have one or more sides or edges that extend ina direction that forms an angle to the first plane of the texturedsurface. The angle between the first plane and a side or edge of theprofile feature is about 45 degrees or less, about 30 degrees or less,about 25 degrees or less, or about 20 degrees or less. The one or moresides or edges may extend in a linear or planar orientation, or may becurved so that the angle changes as a function of distance from thefirst plane. The profile features may have one or more sides thatinclude step(s) and/or flat side(s). The profile feature can have one ormore sides (or portions thereof) that can be orthogonal or perpendicularto the first plane of the textured surface, or extend at an angle ofabout 10 degrees to 89 degrees to the first plane (90 degrees beingperpendicular or orthogonal to the first plane)). The profile featurecan have a side with a stepped configuration, where portions of the sidecan be parallel to the first plane of the textured surface or have anangle of about 1 degrees to 179 degrees (0 degrees being parallel to thefirst plane)).

The textured surface can have profile features with varying shapes(e.g., the profile features can vary in shape, height, width and lengthamong the profile features) or profile features with substantiallyuniform shapes and/or dimensions. The structural color and/or colorshift produced by the textured surface can be determined, at least inpart, by the shape, dimensions, spacing, and the like, of the profilefeatures.

The profile features can be shaped so as to result in a portion of thesurface (e.g., about 25 to 50 percent or more) being about normal to theincoming light when the light is incident at the normal to the firstplane of the textured surface. The profile features can be shaped so asto result in a portion of the surface (e.g., about 25 to 50 percent ormore) being about normal to the incoming light when the light isincident at an angle of up to 45 degrees to the first plane of thetextured surface.

The spatial orientation of the profile features on the textured surfacecan be used to produce the structural color or to effect the degree towhich the structural color shifts at different viewing angles. Thespatial orientation of the profile features on the textured surface canbe random, a semi-random pattern, or in a set pattern. A set pattern ofprofile features is a known set up or configuration of profile featuresin a certain area (e.g., about 50 nanometers squared to about 10millimeters squared depending upon the dimensions of the profilefeatures (e.g., any increment between about 50 nanometers and about 10millimeters is included)). A semi-random pattern of profile features isa known set up of profile features in a certain area (e.g., about 50nanometers squared to 10 millimeters squared) with some deviation (e.g.,1 to 15% deviation from the set pattern), while random profile featuresare present in the area but the pattern of profile features isdiscernable. A random spatial orientation of the profile features in anarea produces no discernable pattern in a certain area, (e.g., about 50nanometers squared to 10 millimeters squared).

The spatial orientation of the profile features can be periodic (e.g.,full or partial) or non-periodic. A periodic spatial orientation of theprofile features is a recurring pattern at intervals. The periodicity ofthe periodic spatial orientation of the profile features can depend uponthe dimensions of the profile features but generally are periodic fromabout 50 nanometers to 100 micrometers. For example, when the dimensionsof the profile features are submicron (e.g., less than about 1 micron,about 0.9 microns, about 0.8 microns, or about 0.75 microns), theperiodicity of the periodic spatial orientation of the profile featurescan be in the 50 to 500 nanometer range or 100 to 1000 nanometer range.In another example, when the dimensions of the profile features are atthe micron level (e.g., greater than about 1 micron, about 0.9 microns,about 0.8 microns, or about 0.75 microns), the periodicity of theperiodic spatial orientation of the profile features can be in the 10 to500 micrometer range or 10 to 1000 micrometer range. Full periodicpattern of profile features indicates that the entire pattern exhibitsperiodicity, whereas partial periodicity indicates that less than all ofthe pattern exhibits periodicity (e.g., about 70-99 percent of theperiodicity is retained). A non-periodic spatial orientation of profilefeatures is not periodic and does not show periodicity based on thedimensions of the profile features, in particular, no periodicity in the50 to 500 nanometer range or 100 to 1000 nanometer range where thedimensions are of the profile features are submicron or no periodicityin the 10 to 500 micrometer range or 10 to 1000 micrometer range wherethe dimensions are of the profile features are in the micron range.

In an aspect, the spatial orientation of the profile features on thetextured surface can be set to reduce distortion effects, e.g., causedby the interference of one profile feature with another in regard to thestructural color and/or color shift of the article. Since the shape,dimension, relative orientation of the profile features can varyconsiderably across the textured surface, the desired spacing and/orrelative positioning for a particular area (e.g., in the micrometerrange or about 1 to 10 square micrometers) having profile features canbe appropriately determined. As discussed herein, the shape, dimension,relative orientation of the profile features affect the contours of thereflective layer(s) and/or constituent layer(s), as well as thedimensions (e.g., thickness), index of refraction, the one or morelayers in the optical element (e.g., reflective layer(s) and constituentlayer(s)) can be considered when designing the textured side of thetexture layer.

The profile features are located in nearly random positions relative toone another across a specific area of the textured surface (e.g., in themicrometer range or about 1 to 10 square micrometers to centimeter rangeor about 0.5 to 5 square centimeters, and all range increments therein),where the randomness does not defeat the purpose of producing thestructural color and/or color shift. In other words, the randomness isconsistent with the spacing, shape, dimension, and relative orientationof the profile features, the dimensions (e.g., thickness), index ofrefraction, and number of layers (e.g., the reflective layer(s), theconstituent layer(s), and the like, with the goal to achieve thestructural color and/or color shift.

The profile features are positioned in a set manner relative to oneanother across a specific area of the textured surface to achieve thepurpose of producing the structural color and/or color shift. Therelative positions of the profile features do not necessarily follow apattern, but can follow a pattern consistent with the desired structuralcolor and/or color shift. As mentioned above and herein, variousparameters related to the profile features, flat areas, and reflectivelayer(s) and/or the constituent layer can be used to position theprofile features in a set manner relative to one another.

The textured surface can include micro and/or nanoscale profile featuresthat can form gratings (e.g., a diffractive grating), photonic crystalstructure, a selective mirror structure, crystal fiber structures,deformed matrix structures, spiraled coiled structures, surface gratingstructures, and combinations thereof. The textured surface can includemicro and/or nanoscale profile features that form a grating having aperiodic or non-periodic design structure to impart the structural colorand/or color shift. The micro and/or nanoscale profile features can havea peak-valley pattern of profile features and/or flat areas to producethe desired structural color and/or color shift. The grading can be anEchelette grating.

The profile features and the flat areas of the textured surface in theoptical element can appear as topographical undulations in each layer(e.g., reflective layer(s) and/or the constituent layer(s)). Forexample, referring to FIG. 2A, an optical element 200 includes atextured structure 220 having a plurality of profile features 222 andflat areas 224. As described herein, one or more of the profile features222 can be projections from a surface of the textured structure 220,and/or one or more of the profile features can be depressions in asurface of the textured structure 220 (not shown). One or moreconstituent layers 240 are disposed on the textured structure 220 andthen a reflective layer 230 and one or more constituent layers 245 aredisposed on the preceding layers. In some embodiments, the resultingtopography of the textured structure 220 and the one or more constituentlayers 240 and 245 and the reflective layer 230 are not identical, butrather, the one or more constituent layers 240 and 245 and thereflective layer 230 can have elevated or depressed regions 242 whichare either elevated or depressed relative to the height of the planarregions 244 and which roughly correspond to the location of the profilefeatures 222 of the textured structure 220. The one or more constituentlayers 240 and 245 and the reflective layer 230 have planar regions 244that roughly correspond to the location of the flat areas 224 of thetextured structure 220. Due to the presence of the elevated or depressedregions 242 and the planar regions 244, the resultant overall topographyof the one or more constituent layers 240 and 245 and the reflectivelayer 230 can be that of an undulating or wave-like structure. Thedimension, shape, and spacing of the profile features along with thenumber of layers of the constituent layer, the reflective layer, thethickness of each of the layers, refractive index of each layer, and thetype of material, can be used to produce an optical element whichresults in a particular structural color and/or color shift.

While the textured surface can produce the structural color in someembodiments, or can affect the degree to which the structural colorshifts at different viewing angles, in other embodiments, a “texturedsurface” or surface with texture may not produce the structural color,or may not affect the degree to which the structural color shifts atdifferent viewing angles. The structural color can be produced by thedesign of the optical element with or without the textured surface. As aresult, the optical element can include the textured surface havingprofile elements of dimensions in the nanometer to millimeter range, butthe structural color or the shifting of the structural color is notattributable to the presence or absence of the textured surface. Inother words, the optical element imparts the same structural color whereor not the textured surface is present The design of the texturedsurface can be configured to not affect the structural color imparted bythe optical element, or not affect the shifting of the structural colorimparted by the optical element. The shape of the profile features,dimensions of the shapes, the spatial orientation of the profilefeatures relative to one another, and the like can be selected so thatthe textured surface does not affect the structural color attributableto the optical element.

The structural color (e.g., achromatic structural color or chromaticstructural color) imparted by a first optical element and a secondoptical element, where the only difference between the first and secondoptical element is that the first optical element includes the texturedsurface, can be compared. A color measurement can be performed for eachof the first and second optical element at the same relative angle,where a comparison of the color measurements can determine what, if any,change is correlated to the presence of the textured surface. Forexample, at a first observation angle the structural color is a firststructural color for the first optical element and at first observationangle and the structural color is a second structural color for thesecond optical element. The first color measurement can be obtained andhas coordinates L₁* and a₁* and b_(1*), while a second color measurementcan be obtained and has coordinates L₂* and a₂* and b₂* can be obtained,according to the CIE 1976 color space under a given illuminationcondition.

When ΔE*_(ab) between the first color measurement and the second colormeasurement is less than or equal to about 2.2 or is less than or equalto about 3, the first structural color associated with the first colormeasurement and the second structural color associated with the secondcolor measurement are the same or not perceptibly different to anaverage observer (e.g., the textured surface does not cause or changethe structural color by more than 20 percent, 10 percent, or 5 percent).When ΔE*_(ab) between the first color measurement and the second colormeasurement is greater than 3 or optionally greater than about 4 or 5,the first structural color associated with the first color measurementand the second structural color associated with the second colormeasurement are different or perceptibly different to an averageobserver (e.g., the textured surface does cause or change the structuralcolor by more than 20 percent, 10 percent, or 5 percent).

In another approach, when the percent difference between one or more ofvalues L₁* and L_(2*), a₁* and a₂*, and b₁* and b₂* is less than 20percent, the first structural color associated with the first colormeasurement and the second structural color associated with the secondcolor measurement are the same or not perceptibly different to anaverage observer (e.g., the textured surface does not cause or changethe structural color by less than 20 percent, 10 percent, or 5 percent).When the percent difference between one or more of values L₁* and L₂*,a₁* and a₂*, and b₁* and b₂* is greater than 20 percent, the firststructural color associated with the first color measurement and thesecond structural color associated with the second color measurement aredifferent or perceptibly different to an average observer (e.g., thetextured surface does cause or change the structural color by more than20 percent, 10 percent, or 5 percent).

In another case, the structural color imparted by a first opticalelement and a second optical element, where the only difference betweenthe first and second optical element is that the first optical elementincludes the textured surface, can be compared at different angles ofincident light upon the optical element or different observation angles.A color measurement can be performed for each of the first and secondoptical element at different angles (e.g., angle between −15 degrees and+180 degrees or between −15 degrees and +60 degrees and which are atleast 15 degrees apart from each other), where a comparison of the colormeasurements can determine what, if any, change is correlated to thepresence of the textured surface at different angles. For example, at afirst observation angle the structural color is a first structural colorfor the first optical element and at second observation angle thestructural color is a second structural color for the second opticalelement. The first color measurement can be obtained and has coordinatesL₁* and a₁* and b_(1*), while a second color measurement can be obtainedand has coordinates L₂* and a₂* and b₂* can be obtained, according tothe CIE 1976 color space under a given illumination condition.

When ΔE*_(ab) between the first color measurement and the second colormeasurement is less than or equal to about 2.2 or is less than or equalto about 3, the first structural color associated with the first colormeasurement and the second structural color associated with the secondcolor measurement are the same or not perceptibly different to anaverage observer (e.g., the textured surface does not cause or changethe structural color based on different angles of incident light uponthe optical element or different observation angles). When ΔE*_(ab)between the first color measurement and the second color measurement isgreater than 3 or optionally greater than about 4 or 5, the firststructural color associated with the first color measurement and thesecond structural color associated with the second color measurement aredifferent or perceptibly different to an average observer (e.g., thetextured surface does cause or change the structural color at differentangles of incident light upon the optical element or differentobservation angles).

In another approach, when the percent difference between one or more ofvalues L₁* and L₂* a₁* and a₂*, and b₁* and b₂* is less than 20 percent,the first structural color associated with the first color measurementand the second structural color associated with the second colormeasurement are the same or not perceptibly different to an averageobserver (e.g., the textured surface does not cause or change thestructural color by more than 20 percent, 10 percent, or 5 percent atdifferent angles of incident light upon the optical element or differentobservation angles). When the percent difference between one or more ofvalues L₁* and L₂* a₁* and a_(2*), and b₁* and b₂* is greater than 20percent, the first structural color associated with the first colormeasurement and the second structural color associated with the secondcolor measurement are different or perceptibly different to an averageobserver (e.g., the textured surface does cause or change the structuralcolor by more than 20 percent, 10 percent, or 5 percent at differentangles of incident light upon the optical element or differentobservation angles).

In another embodiment, the structural color can be imparted by theoptical element without the textured surface. The surface of the layersof the optical element are substantially flat (or substantially threedimensional flat planar surface) or flat (or three dimensional flatplanar surface) at the microscale (e.g., about 1 to 500 micrometers)and/or nanoscale (e.g., about 50 to 500 nanometers). In regard tosubstantially flat (or substantially three dimensional flat planarsurface) can include some minor topographical features (e.g., nanoscaleand/or microscale) such as those that might be caused due tounintentional imperfections, slight undulations that are unintentional,other topographical features (e.g., extensions above the plane of thelayer or depressions below or into the plane of the layer) caused by theequipment and/or process used and the like that are unintentionallyintroduced. The topographical features do not resemble profile featuresof the textured surface. In addition, the substantially flat (orsubstantially three dimensional flat planar surface) or flat (or threedimensional flat planar surface) may include curvature as the dimensionsof the optical element increase, for example about 500 micrometers ormore, about 10 millimeter or more, about 10 centimeters or more,depending upon the dimensions of the optical element, as long as thesurface is flat or substantially flat and the surface only includes someminor topographical features at the microscale (e.g., about 1 to 500micrometers) and/or nanoscale (e.g., about 50 to 500 nanometers)dimensions.

In an aspect, the profile features of the textured surface describedherein are excluded from is referred to as substantially flat (orsubstantially three dimensional flat planar surface) or flat (or threedimensional flat planar surface). The area of the substantially threedimensional flat planar surface or a three dimensional flat planarsurface can be about 1 centimeter squared to about 5 centimeter squared,about 1 centimeter squared to about 10 centimeter squared, about 1centimeter squared to about 15 centimeter squared, about 1 centimetersquared to about 20 centimeter squared, about 1 centimeter squared toabout 50 centimeter squared, about 1 centimeter squared to about 100centimeter squared, about 3 centimeter squared to about 10 centimetersquared, about 3 centimeter squared to about 30 centimeter squared,about 3 centimeter squared to about 50 centimeter squared, about 5centimeter squared to about 20 centimeter squared, about 5 centimetersquared to about 50 centimeter squared, or about 5 centimeter squared toabout 100 centimeter squared.

FIG. 2B is a cross-section illustration of a substantially flat (orsubstantially three dimensional flat planar surface) or flat (or threedimensional flat planar surface) optical element 300. The opticalelement 300 includes one or more constituent layers 340 are disposed onthe flat or three dimensional flat planar surface structure 320 and thena reflective layer 330 and one or more constituent layers 345 aredisposed on the preceding layers. The material that makes up theconstituent layers and the reflective layer, number of layers of theconstituent layer, the reflective layer, the thickness of each of thelayers, refractive index of each layer, and the like, can produce anoptical element which results in a particular structural color.

In an aspect, the surface of the article is a textured surface and theoptical element is on the textured surface. In the following paragraphsand within the application, reference to “structural color” includesreference to one or both of “achromatic structural color” and/or“chromatic structural color.” A hue of the structural color, anintensity of the structural color, a viewing angle at which thestructural color is visible, the lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 colorspace or CIELAB), or any combination thereof, can be altered by thetextured surface (or optionally the textured surface does not alter anyone or a combination of these), as determined by comparing the opticalelement comprising the textured surface of a substantially identicaloptical element (e.g., material used, thickness, and the like) on asurface of a substantially identical article (e.g., material used,design, and the like) which is free of the textured surface.

In an aspect, the surface of the article is a textured surface and theoptical element is on the textured surface. The textured surface reduces(e.g., by about 80% to 99%, about 85 to 99%, about 90 to 99%, about 95to 99%, or about 98 to 99%) or eliminates shift of the structural coloras a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a secondviewing angle, as compared to a substantially identical optical element(e.g., material used, thickness, and the like) on a surface of asubstantially identical article (e.g., material used, design, and thelike) which is free of the texture.

In an aspect, the surface of the article is a textured surface and theoptical element is on the textured surface. A hue of the structuralcolor, an intensity of the structural color, a viewing angle at whichthe structural color is visible, or any combination thereof, isunaffected by or substantially unaffected (e.g., affected by about 1% orless, about 0.1 to 2%, about 0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to7.5%) by the textured surface, as determined by comparing the opticalelement comprising the textured surface to a substantially identicaloptical element (e.g., material used, thickness, and the like) on asurface of a substantially identical article (e.g., material used,design, and the like) which is free of the textured surface.

In an aspect, the surface of the article is a textured surface and theoptical element is on the textured surface. The shift of the structuralcolor is unaltered by or substantially the same (e.g., by about 80% to99%, about 85 to 99%, about 90 to 99%, about 95 to 99%, or about 98 to99% the same) as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle toa second viewing angle, as compared to a substantially identical opticalelement (e.g., material used, thickness, and the like) on a surface of asubstantially identical article (e.g., material used, design, and thelike) which is free of the textured surface.

In an aspect, the textured surface includes a plurality of profilefeatures and flat planar areas, where the profile features extend abovethe flat areas of the textured surface. The dimensions of the profilefeatures, a shape of the profile features, a spacing among the pluralityof the profile features, or any combination thereof, in combination withthe optical element, affect a hue of the structural color, an intensityof the structural color, a viewing angle at which the structural coloris visible, shift of the structural color as a viewing angle is variedfrom a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combinationthereof.

In an aspect, a hue of the structural color, an intensity of thestructural color, a viewing angle at which the structural color isvisible, shift of the structural color as a viewing angle is varied froma first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combinationthereof, are unaffected or substantially unaffected (e.g., affected byabout 1% or less, about 0.1 to 2%, about 0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, orabout 0.1 to 7.5%) by dimensions of the profile features, a shape of theprofile features, a spacing among the plurality of the profile features,or any combination thereof, of the textured surface.

In an aspect, the profile features of the textured surface are in randompositions relative to one another within a specific area. The spacingbetween the profile features, in combination with the optical element,affects a hue of the structural color, an intensity of the structuralcolor, a viewing angle at which the structural color is visible, shiftof the structural color as a viewing angle is varied from a firstviewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof.

In an aspect, a hue of the structural color, an intensity of thestructural color, a viewing angle at which the structural color isvisible, shift of the structural color as a viewing angle is varied froma first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combinationthereof, is unaffected by, or substantially unaffected (e.g., affectedby about 1% or less, about 0.1 to 2%, about 0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%,or about 0.1 to 7.5%) by, spacing between the profile features incombination with the optical element.

In an aspect, the profile features and the flat areas result in at leastone layer of the optical element having an undulating topography acrossthe textured surface and where there is a planar region betweenneighboring profile features that is planar with the flat planar areasof the textured surface.

In an aspect, the dimensions of the planar region relative to theprofile features affect a hue of the structural color, an intensity ofthe structural color, a viewing angle at which the structural color isvisible, shift of the structural color as a viewing angle is varied froma first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combinationthereof.

In an aspect, a hue of the structural color, an intensity of thestructural color, a viewing angle at which the structural color isvisible, shift of the structural color as a viewing angle is varied froma first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combinationthereof, is unaffected by or substantially unaffected (e.g., affected byabout 1% or less, about 0.1 to 2%, about 0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, orabout 0.1 to 7.5%) by dimensions of the planar region relative to theprofile features.

In an aspect, the profile features and the flat areas result in eachlayer of the optical element having an undulating topography across thetextured surface. The undulating topography of the optical elementaffects a hue of the structural color, an intensity of the structuralcolor, a viewing angle at which the structural color is visible, shiftof the structural color as a viewing angle is varied from a firstviewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof. Ahue of the structural color, an intensity of the structural color, aviewing angle at which the structural color is visible, shift of thestructural color as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angleto a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof, is unaffected byor substantially unaffected (e.g., affected by about 1% or less, about0.1 to 2%, about 0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to 7.5%) bythe undulating topography of the optical element.

In an aspect, the surface of the article is a textured surface and theoptical element is on the textured surface. A hue of the chromaticstructural color, an intensity of the chromatic structural color, aviewing angle at which the chromatic structural color is visible, or anycombination thereof, is unaffected by or substantially unaffected (e.g.,affected by about 1% or less, about 0.1 to 2%, about 0.1 to 3%, about0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to 7.5%) by the textured surface, as determinedby comparing the optical element comprising the textured surface to asubstantially identical optical element (e.g., material used, thickness,and the like) on a surface of a substantially identical article (e.g.,material used, design, and the like) which is free of the texturedsurface.

In an aspect, the surface of the article is a textured surface and theoptical element is on the textured surface. The shift of the structuralcolor (e.g., chromatic structural to achromatic structural color and/orbetween chromatic structural colors or between achromatic structuralcolors) is unaltered by or substantially the same (e.g., by about 80% to99%, about 85 to 99%, about 90 to 99%, about 95 to 99%, or about 98 to99% the same) as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle toa second viewing angle, as compared to a substantially identical opticalelement (e.g., material used, thickness, and the like) on a surface of asubstantially identical article (e.g., material used, design, and thelike) which is free of the textured surface.

In an aspect, the textured surface includes a plurality of profilefeatures and flat planar areas, where the profile features extend abovethe flat areas of the textured surface. The dimensions of the profilefeatures, a shape of the profile features, a spacing among the pluralityof the profile features, or any combination thereof, in combination withthe optical element, affect a hue of the chromatic structural color, anintensity of the chromatic structural color, a viewing angle at whichthe chromatic structural color is visible, shift of the chromaticstructural color as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angleto a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof.

In an aspect, a hue of the chromatic structural color, an intensity ofthe chromatic structural color, a viewing angle at which the chromaticstructural color is visible, shift of the chromatic structural color asa viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, or any combination thereof, are unaffected or substantiallyunaffected (e.g., affected by about 1% or less, about 0.1 to 2%, about0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to 7.5%) by dimensions of theprofile features, a shape of the profile features, a spacing among theplurality of the profile features, or any combination thereof, of thetextured surface.

In an aspect, the profile features of the textured surface are in randompositions relative to one another within a specific area. The spacingbetween the profile features, in combination with the optical element,affects a hue of the chromatic structural color, an intensity of thechromatic structural color, a viewing angle at which the chromaticstructural color is visible, shift of the chromatic structural color asa viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, or any combination thereof.

In an aspect, a hue of the chromatic structural color, an intensity ofthe chromatic structural color, a viewing angle at which the chromaticstructural color is visible, shift of the chromatic structural color asa viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, or any combination thereof, is unaffected by, or substantiallyunaffected (e.g., affected by about 1% or less, about 0.1 to 2%, about0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to 7.5%) by, spacing betweenthe profile features in combination with the optical element.

In an aspect, the profile features and the flat areas result in at leastone layer of the optical element having an undulating topography acrossthe textured surface and where there is a planar region betweenneighboring profile features that is planar with the flat planar areasof the textured surface.

In an aspect, the dimensions of the planar region relative to theprofile features affect a hue of the chromatic structural color, anintensity of the chromatic structural color, a viewing angle at whichthe chromatic structural color is visible, shift of the chromaticstructural color as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angleto a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof.

In an aspect, a hue of the chromatic structural color, an intensity ofthe chromatic structural color, a viewing angle at which the chromaticstructural color is visible, shift of the chromatic structural color asa viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, or any combination thereof, is unaffected by or substantiallyunaffected (e.g., affected by about 1% or less, about 0.1 to 2%, about0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to 7.5%) by dimensions of theplanar region relative to the profile features.

In an aspect, the profile features and the flat areas result in eachlayer of the optical element having an undulating topography across thetextured surface. The undulating topography of the optical elementaffects a hue of the chromatic structural color, an intensity of thechromatic structural color, a viewing angle at which the chromaticstructural color is visible, shift of the chromatic structural color asa viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, or any combination thereof. A hue of the chromatic structuralcolor, an intensity of the chromatic structural color, a viewing angleat which the chromatic structural color is visible, shift of thechromatic structural color as a viewing angle is varied from a firstviewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof, isunaffected by or substantially unaffected (e.g., affected by about 1% orless, about 0.1 to 2%, about 0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to7.5%) by the undulating topography of the optical element.

A layer of the optical element further includes a textured surface andthe optical element is on the textured surface. The textured surfacereduces or eliminates shift of the achromatic structural color as aviewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, as compared to a substantially identical optical element (e.g.,material used, thickness, and the like) which is free of the texturedsurface.

A layer of the optical element further includes a textured surface andthe optical element is on the textured surface. Lightness (e.g., L* ofCIE 1976 color space or CIELAB) (optionally a hue and/or a chroma), isunaffected by or substantially unaffected (e.g., affected by about 1% orless, about 0.1 to 2%, about 0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to7.5%) by the textured surface, as determined by comparing the opticalelement comprising the textured surface to a substantially identicaloptical element (e.g., material used, thickness, and the like) which isfree of the textured surface.

A layer of the optical element further includes a textured surface andthe optical element is on the textured surface. A shift of theachromatic structural color is unaltered by or substantially the same asa viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, as compared to a substantially identical optical element (e.g.,material used, thickness, and the like) which is free of the texturedsurface.

The surface of the article is a textured surface and the optical elementis on the textured surface. Lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color spaceor CIELAB) (optionally a hue and/or a chroma) is altered by the texturedsurface, as determined by comparing the optical element comprising thetextured surface of a substantially identical optical element (e.g.,material used, thickness, and the like) on a surface of a substantiallyidentical article (e.g., material used, design, and the like) which isfree of the textured surface.

The surface of the article is a textured surface and the optical elementis on the textured surface. The textured surface reduces (e.g., by about80% to 99%, about 85 to 99%, about 90 to 99%, about 95 to 99%, or about98 to 99%) or eliminates shift of the achromatic structural color as aviewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, as compared to a substantially identical optical element (e.g.,material used, thickness, and the like) on a surface of a substantiallyidentical article (e.g., material used, design, and the like) which isfree of the texture.

The surface of the article is a textured surface and the optical elementis on the textured surface. Lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color spaceor CIELAB) (optionally a hue and/or a chroma) is unaffected by orsubstantially unaffected (e.g., affected by about 1% or less, about 0.1to 2%, about 0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to 7.5%) by thetextured surface, as determined by comparing the optical elementcomprising the textured surface to a substantially identical opticalelement (e.g., material used, thickness, and the like) on a surface of asubstantially identical article (e.g., material used, design, and thelike) which is free of the textured surface.

The surface of the article is a textured surface and the optical elementis on the textured surface. The shift of the achromatic structural coloris unaltered by or substantially the same (e.g., by about 80% to 99%,about 85 to 99%, about 90 to 99%, about 95 to 99%, or about 98 to 99%the same) as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to asecond viewing angle, as compared to a substantially identical opticalelement (e.g., material used, thickness, and the like) on a surface of asubstantially identical article (e.g., material used, design, and thelike) which is free of the textured surface.

The textured surface includes a plurality of profile features and flatplanar areas, where the profile features extend above the flat areas ofthe textured surface. The dimensions of the profile features, a shape ofthe profile features, a spacing among the plurality of the profilefeatures, or any combination thereof, in combination with the opticalelement, affect lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB)(optionally a hue and/or a chroma) or a shift of the achromaticstructural color as a viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angleto a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof.

Lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB) (optionally a hueand/or a chroma) or a shift of the structural color as a viewing angleis varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, or anycombination thereof, are unaffected or substantially unaffected (e.g.,affected by about 1% or less, about 0.1 to 2%, about 0.1 to 3%, about0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to 7.5%) by dimensions of the profile features,a shape of the profile features, a spacing among the plurality of theprofile features, or any combination thereof, of the textured surface.

The profile features of the textured surface are in random positionsrelative to one another within a specific area. The spacing between theprofile features, in combination with the optical element, affectslightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB) (optionally a hueand/or a chroma) or a shift of the structural color as a viewing angleis varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewing angle, or anycombination thereof.

Lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB) (optionally a hueand/or a chroma) or a shift of the achromatic structural color as aviewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, or any combination thereof, is unaffected by, or substantiallyunaffected (e.g., affected by about 1% or less, about 0.1 to 2%, about0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to 7.5%) by, spacing betweenthe profile features in combination with the optical element.

The profile features and the flat areas result in at least one layer ofthe optical element having an undulating topography across the texturedsurface and where there is a planar region between neighboring profilefeatures that is planar with the flat planar areas of the texturedsurface.

The dimensions of the planar region relative to the profile featuresaffect lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB)(optionally a hue and/or a chroma) or a shift of the structural color asa viewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, or any combination thereof.

Lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB) (optionally a hueand/or a chroma) or a shift of the achromatic structural color as aviewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, or any combination thereof, is unaffected by or substantiallyunaffected (e.g., affected by about 1% or less, about 0.1 to 2%, about0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to 7.5%) by dimensions of theplanar region relative to the profile features.

The profile features and the flat areas result in each layer of theoptical element having an undulating topography across the texturedsurface. The undulating topography of the optical element affectslightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB) (optionally a hueand/or a chroma) or a shift of the achromatic structural color as aviewing angle is varied from a first viewing angle to a second viewingangle, or any combination thereof. Lightness (e.g., L* of CIE 1976 colorspace or CIELAB) (optionally a hue and/or a chroma) or a shift of theachromatic structural color as a viewing angle is varied from a firstviewing angle to a second viewing angle, or any combination thereof, isunaffected by or substantially unaffected (e.g., affected by about 1% orless, about 0.1 to 2%, about 0.1 to 3%, about 0.1 to 5%, or about 0.1 to7.5%) by the undulating topography of the optical element.

Additional details are provided regarding the polymeric materialsreferenced herein for example, the polymers described in reference tothe article, components of the article, structures, layers, films,bladders, foams, primer layer, coating, and like the. The polymericmaterial includes at least one polymer. The polymer can be a thermosetpolymer or a thermoplastic polymer. The polymer can be an elastomericpolymer, including an elastomeric thermoset polymer or an elastomericthermoplastic polymer. The polymer can be selected from: polyurethanes(including elastomeric polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyurethanes(TPUs), and elastomeric TPUs), polyesters, polyethers, polyamides, vinylpolymers (e.g., copolymers of vinyl alcohol, vinyl esters, ethylene,acrylates, methacrylates, styrene, and so on), polyacrylonitriles,polyphenylene ethers, polycarbonates, polyureas, polystyrenes,co-polymers thereof (including polyester-polyurethanes,polyether-polyurethanes, polycarbonate-polyurethanes, polyether blockpolyamides (PEBAs), and styrene block copolymers), and any combinationthereof, as described herein. The polymer can include one or morepolymers selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyethers,polyamides, polyurethanes, polyolefins copolymers of each, andcombinations thereof.

The term “polymer” refers to a chemical compound formed of a pluralityof repeating structural units referred to as monomers. Polymers oftenare formed by a polymerization reaction in which the plurality ofstructural units become covalently bonded together. When the monomerunits forming the polymer all have the same chemical structure, thepolymer is a homopolymer. When the polymer includes two or more monomerunits having different chemical structures, the polymer is a copolymer.One example of a type of copolymer is a terpolymer, which includes threedifferent types of monomer units. The co-polymer can include two or moredifferent monomers randomly distributed in the polymer (e.g., a randomco-polymer). Alternatively, one or more blocks containing a plurality ofa first type of monomer can be bonded to one or more blocks containing aplurality of a second type of monomer, forming a block copolymer. Asingle monomer unit can include one or more different chemicalfunctional groups.

Polymers having repeating units which include two or more types ofchemical functional groups can be referred to as having two or moresegments. For example, a polymer having repeating units of the samechemical structure can be referred to as having repeating segments.Segments are commonly described as being relatively harder or softerbased on their chemical structures, and it is common for polymers toinclude relatively harder segments and relatively softer segments bondedto each other in a single monomeric unit or in different monomericunits. When the polymer includes repeating segments, physicalinteractions or chemical bonds can be present within the segments orbetween the segments or both within and between the segments. Examplesof segments often referred to as hard segments include segmentsincluding a urethane linkage, which can be formed from reacting anisocyanate with a polyol to form a polyurethane. Examples of segmentsoften referred to as soft segments include segments including an alkoxyfunctional group, such as segments including ether or ester functionalgroups, and polyester segments. Segments can be referred to based on thename of the functional group present in the segment (e.g., a polyethersegment, a polyester segment), as well as based on the name of thechemical structure which was reacted in order to form the segment (e.g.,a polyol-derived segment, an isocyanate-derived segment). When referringto segments of a particular functional group or of a particular chemicalstructure from which the segment was derived, it is understood that thepolymer can contain up to 10 mole percent of segments of otherfunctional groups or derived from other chemical structures. Forexample, as used herein, a polyether segment is understood to include upto 10 mole percent of non-polyether segments.

As previously described, the polymer can be a thermoplastic polymer. Ingeneral, a thermoplastic polymer softens or melts when heated andreturns to a solid state when cooled. The thermoplastic polymertransitions from a solid state to a softened state when its temperatureis increased to a temperature at or above its softening temperature, anda liquid state when its temperature is increased to a temperature at orabove its melting temperature. When sufficiently cooled, thethermoplastic polymer transitions from the softened or liquid state tothe solid state. As such, the thermoplastic polymer may be softened ormelted, molded, cooled, re-softened or re-melted, re-molded, and cooledagain through multiple cycles. For amorphous thermoplastic polymers, thesolid state is understood to be the “rubbery” state above the glasstransition temperature of the polymer. The thermoplastic polymer canhave a melting temperature from about 90 degrees C. to about 190 degreesC. when determined in accordance with ASTM D3418-97 as described hereinbelow, and includes all subranges therein in increments of 1 degree. Thethermoplastic polymer can have a melting temperature from about 93degrees C. to about 99 degrees C. when determined in accordance withASTM D3418-97 as described herein below. The thermoplastic polymer canhave a melting temperature from about 112 degrees C. to about 118degrees C. when determined in accordance with ASTM D3418-97 as describedherein below.

The glass transition temperature is the temperature at which anamorphous polymer transitions from a relatively brittle “glassy” stateto a relatively more flexible “rubbery” state. The thermoplastic polymercan have a glass transition temperature from about −20 degrees C. toabout 30 degrees C. when determined in accordance with ASTM D3418-97 asdescribed herein below. The thermoplastic polymer can have a glasstransition temperature (from about −13 degree C. to about −7 degrees C.when determined in accordance with ASTM D3418-97 as described hereinbelow. The thermoplastic polymer can have a glass transition temperaturefrom about 17 degrees C. to about 23 degrees C. when determined inaccordance with ASTM D3418-97 as described herein below.

The thermoplastic polymer can have a melt flow index from about 10 toabout 30 cubic centimeters per 10 minutes (cm3/10 min) when tested inaccordance with ASTM D1238-13 as described herein below at 160 degreesC. using a weight of 2.16 kilograms (kg). The thermoplastic polymer canhave a melt flow index from about 22 cm3/10 min to about 28 cm3/10 minwhen tested in accordance with ASTM D1238-13 as described herein belowat 160 degrees C. using a weight of 2.16 kg.

The thermoplastic polymer can have a cold Ross flex test result of about120,000 to about 180,000 cycles without cracking or whitening whentested on a thermoformed plaque of the thermoplastic polymer inaccordance with the cold Ross flex test as described herein below. Thethermoplastic polymer can have a cold Ross flex test result of about140,000 to about 160,000 cycles without cracking or whitening whentested on a thermoformed plaque of the thermoplastic polymer inaccordance with the cold Ross flex test as described herein below.

The thermoplastic polymer can have a modulus from about 5 megaPascals(MPa) to about 100 MPa when determined on a thermoformed plaque inaccordance with ASTM D412-98 Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubberand Thermoplastic Rubbers and Thermoplastic Elastomers-Tension withmodifications described herein below. The thermoplastic polymer can havea modulus from about 20 MPa to about 80 MPa when determined on athermoformed plaque in accordance with ASTM D412-98 Standard TestMethods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Rubbers andThermoplastic Elastomers-Tension with modifications described hereinbelow.

The polymer can be a thermoset polymer. As used herein, a “thermosetpolymer” is understood to refer to a polymer which cannot be heated andmelted, as its melting temperature is at or above its decompositiontemperature. A “thermoset material” refers to a material which comprisesat least one thermoset polymer. The thermoset polymer and/or thermosetmaterial can be prepared from a precursor (e.g., an uncured or partiallycured polymer or material) using thermal energy and/or actinic radiation(e.g., ultraviolet radiation, visible radiation, high energy radiation,infrared radiation) to form a partially cured or fully cured polymer ormaterial which no longer remains fully thermoplastic. In some cases, thecured or partially cured polymer or material may remain thermoelasticproperties, in that it is possible to partially soften and mold thepolymer or material at elevated temperatures and/or pressures, but it isnot possible to melt the polymer or material. The curing can bepromoted, for example, with the use of high pressure and/or a catalyst.In many examples, the curing process is irreversible since it results incross-linking and/or polymerization reactions of the precursors. Theuncured or partially cured polymers or materials can be malleable orliquid prior to curing. In some cases, the uncured or partially curedpolymers or materials can be molded into their final shape, or used asadhesives. Once hardened, a thermoset polymer or material cannot bere-melted in order to be reshaped. The textured surface can be formed bypartially or fully curing an uncured precursor material to lock in thetextured surface.

Polyurethane

The polymer can be a polyurethane, such as a thermoplastic polyurethane(also referred to as “TPU”). Alternatively, the polymer can be athermoset polyurethane. Additionally, polyurethane can be an elastomericpolyurethane, including an elastomeric TPU or an elastomeric thermosetpolyurethane. The elastomeric polyurethane can include hard and softsegments. The hard segments can comprise or consist of urethane segments(e.g., isocyanate-derived segments). The soft segments can comprise orconsist of alkoxy segments (e.g., polyol-derived segments includingpolyether segments, or polyester segments, or a combination of polyethersegments and polyester segments). The polyurethane can comprise orconsist essentially of an elastomeric polyurethane having repeating hardsegments and repeating soft segments.

One or more of the polyurethanes can be produced by polymerizing one ormore isocyanates with one or more polyols to produce polymer chainshaving carbamate linkages (—N(CO)O—), where the isocyanate(s) eachpreferably include two or more isocyanate (—NCO) groups per molecule,such as 2, 3, or 4 isocyanate groups per molecule (although,mono-functional isocyanates can also be optionally included, e.g., aschain terminating units).

Additionally, the isocyanates can also be chain extended with one ormore chain extenders to bridge two or more isocyanates, increasing thelength of the hard segment.

The term “aliphatic” refers to a saturated or unsaturated organicmolecule or portion of a molecule that does not include a cyclicallyconjugated ring system having delocalized pi electrons. In comparison,the term “aromatic” refers to an organic molecule or portion of amolecule having a cyclically conjugated ring system with delocalized pielectrons, which exhibits greater stability than a hypothetical ringsystem having localized pi electrons.

Examples of suitable aliphatic diisocyanates for producing thepolyurethane polymer chains include hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI),isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), butylenediisocyanate (BDI),bisisocyanatocyclohexylmethane (HM DI), 2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylenediisocyanate (TMDI), bisisocyanatomethylcyclohexane,bisisocyanatomethyltricyclodecane, norbornane diisocyanate (NDI),cyclohexane diisocyanate (CHDI), 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate(H12MDI), diisocyanatododecane, lysine diisocyanate, and combinationsthereof.

The isocyanate-derived segments can include segments derived fromaliphatic diisocyanate. A majority of the isocyanate-derived segmentscan comprise segments derived from aliphatic diisocyanates. At least 90%of the isocyanate-derived segments are derived from aliphaticdiisocyanates. The isocyanate-derived segments can consist essentiallyof segments derived from aliphatic diisocyanates. The aliphaticdiisocyanate-derived segments can be derived substantially (e.g., about50 percent or more, about 60 percent or more, about 70 percent or more,about 80 percent or more, about 90 percent or more) from linearaliphatic diisocyanates. At least 80% of the aliphaticdiisocyanate-derived segments can be derived from aliphaticdiisocyanates that are free of side chains. The segments derived fromaliphatic diisocyanates can include linear aliphatic diisocyanateshaving from 2 to 10 carbon atoms.

Examples of suitable aromatic diisocyanates for producing thepolyurethane polymer chains include toluene diisocyanate (TDI), TDIadducts with trimethyloylpropane (TMP), methylene diphenyl diisocyanate(MDI), xylene diisocyanate (XDI), tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate(TMXDI), hydrogenated xylene diisocyanate (HXDI), naphthalene1,5-diisocyanate (NDI), 1,5-tetrahydronaphthalene diisocyanate,para-phenylene diisocyanate (PPDI), 3,3′-dimethyldiphenyl-4,4′-diisocyanate (DDDI), 4,4′-dibenzyl diisocyanate (DBDI),4-chloro-1,3-phenylene diisocyanate, and combinations thereof. Thepolymer chains can be substantially free of aromatic groups.

The polyurethane polymer chains can be produced from diisocyanatesincluding HMDI, TDI, MDI, H12 aliphatics, and combinations thereof. Forexample, the polyurethane can comprise one or more polyurethane polymerchains produced from diisocyanates including HMDI, TDI, MDI, H12aliphatics, and combinations thereof.

Polyurethane chains which are at least partially crosslinked or whichcan be crosslinked, can be used in accordance with the presentdisclosure. It is possible to produce crosslinked or crosslinkablepolyurethane chains by reacting multi-functional isocyanates to form thepolyurethane. Examples of suitable triisocyanates for producing thepolyurethane chains include TDI, HDI, and IPDI adducts withtrimethyloylpropane (TMP), uretdiones (i.e., dimerized isocyanates),polymeric MDI, and combinations thereof.

Examples of suitable chain extender polyols for producing thepolyurethane include ethylene glycol, lower oligomers of ethylene glycol(e.g., diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and tetraethylene glycol),1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, lower oligomers of propyleneglycol (e.g., dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, andtetrapropylene glycol), 1,4-butylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol,1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, neopentyl glycol,1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, 2-ethyl-1,6-hexanediol,1-methyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, dihydroxyalkylatedaromatic compounds (e.g., bis(2-hydroxyethyl) ethers of hydroquinone andresorcinol, xylene-a,a-diols, bis(2-hydroxyethyl) ethers ofxylene-a,a-diols, and combinations thereof.

In some examples of the polyurethane, the polyurethane includes apolyester group. The polyester group can be derived from thepolyesterification of one or more dihydric alcohols (e.g., ethyleneglycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol,1,3-butanediol, 2-methylpentanediol 1,5-diethylene glycol,1,5-pentanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol,cyclohexanedimethanol, and combinations thereof) with one or moredicarboxylic acids (e.g., adipic acid, succinic acid, sebacic acid,suberic acid, methyladipic acid, glutaric acid, pimelic acid, azelaicacid, thiodipropionic acid and citraconic acid and combinationsthereof). The polyester group also can be derived from polycarbonateprepolymers, such as poly(hexamethylene carbonate) glycol,poly(propylene carbonate) glycol, poly(tetramethylene carbonate)glycol,and poly(nonanemethylene carbonate) glycol. Suitable polyesters caninclude, for example, polyethylene adipate (PEA), poly(1,4-butyleneadipate), poly(tetramethylene adipate), poly(hexamethylene adipate),polycaprolactone, polyhexamethylene carbonate, poly(propylenecarbonate), poly(tetramethylene carbonate), poly(nonanemethylenecarbonate), and combinations thereof.

The polyurethane can include a polyether (e.g., a polyethylene oxide(PEO) group, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) group), a polyvinylpyrrolidonegroup, a polyacrylic acid group, or combinations thereof.

Optionally, the polyurethane can include an at least partiallycrosslinked polymeric network that includes polymer chains that arederivatives of polyurethane. The level of crosslinking can be such thatthe polyurethane retains thermoplastic properties (i.e., the crosslinkedthermoplastic polyurethane can be melted and re-solidified under theprocessing conditions described herein). The crosslinked polyurethanecan be a thermoset polymer. This crosslinked polymeric network can beproduced by polymerizing one or more isocyanates with one or morepolyamino compounds, polysulfhydryl compounds, or combinations thereof.

The polyurethane chain can be physically crosslinked to anotherpolyurethane chain through e.g., nonpolar or polar interactions betweenthe urethane or carbamate groups of the polymers (the hard segments

The polyurethane can be a thermoplastic polyurethane composed of MDI,PTMO, and 1,4-butylene glycol, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,005.Commercially available polyurethanes suitable for the present useinclude, but are not limited to those under the tradename “SANCURE”(e.g., the “SANCURE” series of polymer such as “SANCURE” 20025F) or“TECOPHILIC” (e.g., TG-500, TG-2000, SP-80A-150, SP-93A-100, SP-60D-60)(Lubrizol, Countryside, Ill., USA), “PELLETHANE” 2355-85ATP and2355-95AE (Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Mich., USA.), “ESTANE”(e.g., ALR G 500, or 58213; Lubrizol, Countryside, Ill., USA).

Polyamides

The polymer can comprise a polyamide, such as a thermoplastic polyamide,or a thermoset polyamide. The polyamide can be an elastomeric polyamide,including an elastomeric thermoplastic polyamide or an elastomericthermoset polyamide. The polyamide can be a polyamide homopolymer havingrepeating polyamide segments of the same chemical structure.Alternatively, the polyamide can comprise a number of polyamide segmentshaving different polyamide chemical structures (e.g., polyamide 6segments, polyamide 11 segments, polyamide 12 segments, polyamide 66segments, etc.). The polyamide segments having different chemicalstructure can be arranged randomly, or can be arranged as repeatingblocks.

The polyamide can be a co-polyamide (i.e., a co-polymer includingpolyamide segments and non-polyamide segments). The polyamide segmentsof the co-polyamide can comprise or consist of polyamide 6 segments,polyamide 11 segments, polyamide 12 segments, polyamide 66 segments, orany combination thereof. The polyamide segments of the co-polyamide canbe arranged randomly, or can be arranged as repeating segments. Thepolyamide segments can comprise or consist of polyamide 6 segments, orpolyamide 12 segments, or both polyamide 6 segment and polyamide 12segments. In the example where the polyamide segments of theco-polyamide include of polyamide 6 segments and polyamide 12 segments,the segments can be arranged randomly. The non-polyamide segments of theco-polyamide can comprise or consist of polyether segments, polyestersegments, or both polyether segments and polyester segments. Theco-polyamide can be a block co-polyamide, or can be a randomco-polyamide. The copolyamide can be formed from the polycondensation ofa polyamide oligomer or prepolymer with a second oligomer prepolymer toform a copolyamide (i.e., a co-polymer including polyamide segments.Optionally, the second prepolymer can be a hydrophilic prepolymer.

The polyamide can be a polyamide-containing block co-polymer. Forexample, the block co-polymer can have repeating hard segments, andrepeating soft segments. The hard segments can comprise polyamidesegments, and the soft segments can comprise non-polyamide segments. Thepolyamide-containing block co-polymer can be an elastomeric co-polyamidecomprising or consisting of polyamide-containing block co-polymershaving repeating hard segments and repeating soft segments. In blockco-polymers, including block co-polymers having repeating hard segmentsand soft segments, physical crosslinks can be present within thesegments or between the segments or both within and between thesegments.

The polyamide itself, or the polyamide segment of thepolyamide-containing block co-polymer can be derived from thecondensation of polyamide prepolymers, such as lactams, amino acids,and/or diamino compounds with dicarboxylic acids, or activated formsthereof. The resulting polyamide segments include amide linkages(—(CO)NH—). The term “amino acid” refers to a molecule having at leastone amino group and at least one carboxyl group. Each polyamide segmentof the polyamide can be the same or different.

The polyamide or the polyamide segment of the polyamide-containing blockco-polymer can be derived from the polycondensation of lactams and/oramino acids.

Optionally, in order to increase the relative degree of hydrophilicityof the polyamide-containing block co-polymer, the polyamide can includea polyamide-polyether block copolymer segment.

The polyamide can comprise or consist essentially of apoly(ether-block-amide). The poly(ether-block-amide) can be formed fromthe polycondensation of a carboxylic acid terminated polyamideprepolymer and a hydroxyl terminated polyether prepolymer to form apoly(ether-block-amide).

Exemplary commercially available copolymers include, but are not limitedto, those available under the tradenames of “VESTAMID” (EvonikIndustries, Essen, Germany); “PLATAMID” (Arkema, Colombes, France),e.g., product code H2694; “PEBAX” (Arkema), e.g., product code “PEBAXMH1657” and “PEBAX MV1074”; “PEBAX RNEW” (Arkema); “GRILAMID”(EMS-Chemie AG, Domat-Ems, Switzerland), or also to other similarmaterials produced by various other suppliers.

The polyamide can be physically crosslinked through, e.g., nonpolar orpolar interactions between the polyamide groups of the polymers. Inexamples where the polyamide is a copolyamide, the copolyamide can bephysically crosslinked through interactions between the polyamidegroups, and optionally by interactions between the copolymer groups.When the co-polyamide is physically crosslinked through interactionsbetween the polyamide groups, the polyamide segments can form theportion of the polymer referred to as the hard segment, and copolymersegments can form the portion of the polymer referred to as the softsegment. For example, when the copolyamide is a poly(ether-block-amide),the polyamide segments form the hard segments of the polymer, andpolyether segments form the soft segments of the polymer. Therefore, insome examples, the polymer can include a physically crosslinkedpolymeric network having one or more polymer chains with amide linkages.

The polyamide segment of the co-polyamide can include polyamide-11 orpolyamide-12 and the polyether segment can be a segment selected fromthe group consisting of polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, andpolytetramethylene oxide segments, and combinations thereof.

The polyamide can be partially or fully covalently crosslinked, aspreviously described herein. In some cases, the degree of crosslinkingpresent in the polyamide is such that, when it is thermally processed,e.g., in the form of a yarn or fiber to form the articles of the presentdisclosure, the partially covalently crosslinked thermoplastic polyamideretains sufficient thermoplastic character that the partially covalentlycrosslinked thermoplastic polyamide is melted during the processing andre-solidifies. In other cases, the crosslinked polyamide is a thermosetpolymer.

Polyesters

The polymers can comprise a polyester. The polyester can comprise athermoplastic polyester, or a thermoset polyester. Additionally, thepolyester can be an elastomeric polyester, including a thermoplasticpolyester or a thermoset elastomeric polyester. The polyester can beformed by reaction of one or more carboxylic acids, or its ester-formingderivatives, with one or more bivalent or multivalent aliphatic,alicyclic, aromatic or araliphatic alcohols or a bisphenol. Thepolyester can be a polyester homopolymer having repeating polyestersegments of the same chemical structure. Alternatively, the polyestercan comprise a number of polyester segments having different polyesterchemical structures (e.g., polyglycolic acid segments, polylactic acidsegments, polycaprolactone segments, polyhydroxyalkanoate segments,polyhydroxybutyrate segments, etc.). The polyester segments havingdifferent chemical structure can be arranged randomly, or can bearranged as repeating blocks.

Exemplary carboxylic acids that can be used to prepare a polyesterinclude, but are not limited to, adipic acid, pimelic acid, subericacid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, nonane dicarboxylic acid, decanedicarboxylic acid, undecane dicarboxylic acid, terephthalic acid,isophthalic acid, alkyl-substituted or halogenated terephthalic acid,alkyl-substituted or halogenated isophthalic acid, nitro-terephthalicacid, 4,4′-diphenyl ether dicarboxylic acid, 4,4′-diphenyl thioetherdicarboxylic acid, 4,4′-diphenyl sulfone-dicarboxylic acid,4,4′-diphenyl alkylenedicarboxylic acid, naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylicacid, cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylicacid. Exemplary diols or phenols suitable for the preparation of thepolyester include, but are not limited to, ethylene glycol, diethyleneglycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol,1,10-decanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol,2,2,4-trimethylhexanediol, p-xylenediol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol,1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol, and bis-phenol A.

The polyester can be a polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), apolytrimethylene terephthalate, a polyhexamethylene terephthalate, apoly-1,4-dimethylcyclohexane terephthalate, a polyethylene terephthalate(PET), a polyethylene isophthalate (PEI), a polyarylate (PAR), apolybutylene naphthalate (PBN), a liquid crystal polyester, or a blendor mixture of two or more of the foregoing.

The polyester can be a co-polyester (i.e., a co-polymer includingpolyester segments and non-polyester segments). The co-polyester can bean aliphatic co-polyester (i.e., a co-polyester in which both thepolyester segments and the non-polyester segments are aliphatic).Alternatively, the co-polyester can include aromatic segments. Thepolyester segments of the co-polyester can comprise or consistessentially of polyglycolic acid segments, polylactic acid segments,polycaprolactone segments, polyhydroxyalkanoate segments,polyhydroxybutyrate segments, or any combination thereof. The polyestersegments of the co-polyester can be arranged randomly, or can bearranged as repeating blocks.

For example, the polyester can be a block co-polyester having repeatingblocks of polymeric units of the same chemical structure which arerelatively harder (hard segments), and repeating blocks of the samechemical structure which are relatively softer (soft segments). In blockco-polyesters, including block co-polyesters having repeating hardsegments and soft segments, physical crosslinks can be present withinthe blocks or between the blocks or both within and between the blocks.The polymer can comprise or consist essentially of an elastomericco-polyester having repeating blocks of hard segments and repeatingblocks of soft segments.

The non-polyester segments of the co-polyester can comprise or consistessentially of polyether segments, polyamide segments, or both polyethersegments and polyamide segments. The co-polyester can be a blockco-polyester, or can be a random co-polyester. The co-polyester can beformed from the polycondensation of a polyester oligomer or prepolymerwith a second oligomer prepolymer to form a block copolyester.Optionally, the second prepolymer can be a hydrophilic prepolymer. Forexample, the co-polyester can be formed from the polycondensation ofterephthalic acid or naphthalene dicarboxylic acid with ethylene glycol,1,4-butanediol, or 1,3-propanediol. Examples of co-polyesters includepolyethylene adipate, polybutylene succinate,poly(3-hydroxbutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), polyethylene terephthalate,polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyethylenenapthalate, and combinations thereof. The co-polyamide can comprise orconsist of polyethylene terephthalate.

The polyester can be a block copolymer comprising segments of one ormore of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), a polytrimethyleneterephthalate, a polyhexamethylene terephthalate, apoly-1,4-dimethylcyclohexane terephthalate, a polyethylene terephthalate(PET), a polyethylene isophthalate (PEI), a polyarylate (PAR), apolybutylene naphthalate (PBN), and a liquid crystal polyester. Forexample, a suitable polyester that is a block copolymer can be a PET/PEIcopolymer, a polybutylene terephthalate/tetraethylene glycol copolymer,a polyoxyalkylenediimide diacid/polybutylene terephthalate copolymer, ora blend or mixture of any of the foregoing.

The disclosed polyesters can be prepared by a variety ofpolycondensation methods known to the skilled artisan, such as a solventpolymerization or a melt polymerization process.

Polyolefins

The polymers can comprise or consist essentially of a polyolefin. Thepolyolefin can be a thermoplastic polyolefin or a thermoset polyolefin.Additionally, the polyolefin can be an elastomeric polyolefin, includinga thermoplastic elastomeric polyolefin or a thermoset elastomericpolyolefin. Exemplary polyolefins can include polyethylene,polypropylene, and olefin elastomers (e.g., metallocene-catalyzed blockcopolymers of ethylene and α-olefins having 4 to about 8 carbon atoms).The polyolefin can be a polymer comprising a polyethylene, anethylene-α-olefin copolymer, an ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), apolybutene, a polyisobutylene, a poly-4-methylpent-1-ene, apolyisoprene, a polybutadiene, a ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer,and an olefin elastomer such as a dynamically crosslinked polymerobtained from polypropylene (PP) and an ethylene-propylene rubber(EPDM), and blends or mixtures of the foregoing. Further exemplarypolyolefins include polymers of cycloolefins such as cyclopentene ornorbornene.

It is to be understood that polyethylene, which optionally can becrosslinked, is inclusive a variety of polyethylenes, including lowdensity polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE),(VLDPE) and (ULDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), high densitypolyethylene (HDPE), high density and high molecular weight polyethylene(HDPE-HMW), high density and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene(HDPE-UHMVV), and blends or mixtures of any the foregoing polyethylenes.A polyethylene can also be a polyethylene copolymer derived frommonomers of monolefins and diolefins copolymerized with a vinyl, acrylicacid, methacrylic acid, ethyl acrylate, vinyl alcohol, and/or vinylacetate. Polyolefin copolymers comprising vinyl acetate-derived unitscan be a high vinyl acetate content copolymer, e.g., greater than about50 weight percent vinyl acetate-derived composition.

The polyolefin can be formed through free radical, cationic, and/oranionic polymerization by methods well known to those skilled in the art(e.g., using a peroxide initiator, heat, and/or light).

Suitable polyolefins can be prepared by polymerization of monomers ofmonolefins and diolefins as described herein. Exemplary monomers thatcan be used to prepare the polyolefin include, but are not limited to,ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 2-methyl-1-propene,3-methyl-1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 5-methyl-1-hexene and mixturesthereof.

Suitable ethylene-α-olefin copolymers can be obtained bycopolymerization of ethylene with an α-olefin such as propylene,butene-1, hexene-1, octene-1,4-methyl-1-pentene or the like havingcarbon numbers of 3 to 12.

The polyolefin can be a mixture of polyolefins, such as a mixture of twoor more polyolefins disclosed herein above. For example, a suitablemixture of polyolefins can be a mixture of polypropylene withpolyisobutylene, polypropylene with polyethylene (for example PP/HDPE,PP/LDPE) or mixtures of different types of polyethylene (for exampleLDPE/HDPE).

The polyolefin can be a copolymer of suitable monolefin monomers or acopolymer of a suitable monolefin monomer and a vinyl monomer. Exemplarypolyolefin copolymers include ethylene/propylene copolymers, linear lowdensity polyethylene (LLDPE) and mixtures thereof with low densitypolyethylene (LDPE), propylene/but-1-ene copolymers,propylene/isobutylene copolymers, ethylene/but-1-ene copolymers,ethylene/hexene copolymers, ethylene/methylpentene copolymers,ethylene/heptene copolymers, ethylene/octene copolymers,propylene/butadiene copolymers, isobutylene/isoprene copolymers,ethylene/alkyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene/alkyl methacrylatecopolymers, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers and their copolymers withcarbon monoxide or ethylene/acrylic acid copolymers and their salts(ionomers) as well as terpolymers of ethylene with propylene and a dienesuch as hexadiene, dicyclopentadiene or ethylidene-norbornene; andmixtures of such copolymers with one another and with polymers mentionedin 1) above, for example polypropylene/ethylene-propylene copolymers,LDPE/ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA), LDPE/ethylene-acrylic acidcopolymers (EAA), LLDPE/EVA, LLDPE/EAA and alternating or randompolyalkylene/carbon monoxide copolymers and mixtures thereof with otherpolymers, for example polyamides.

The polyolefin can be a polypropylene homopolymer, a polypropylenecopolymers, a polypropylene random copolymer, a polypropylene blockcopolymer, a polyethylene homopolymer, a polyethylene random copolymer,a polyethylene block copolymer, a low density polyethylene (LDPE), alinear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), a medium density polyethylene,a high density polyethylene (HDPE), or blends or mixtures of one or moreof the preceding polymers.

The polyolefin can be a polypropylene. The term “polypropylene,” as usedherein, is intended to encompass any polymeric composition comprisingpropylene monomers, either alone or in mixture or copolymer with otherrandomly selected and oriented polyolefins, dienes, or other monomers(such as ethylene, butylene, and the like). Such a term also encompassesany different configuration and arrangement of the constituent monomers(such as atactic, syndiotactic, isotactic, and the like). Thus, the termas applied to fibers is intended to encompass actual long strands,tapes, threads, and the like, of drawn polymer. The polypropylene can beof any standard melt flow (by testing); however, standard fiber gradepolypropylene resins possess ranges of Melt Flow Indices between about 1and 1000.

The polyolefin can be a polyethylene. The term “polyethylene,” as usedherein, is intended to encompass any polymeric composition comprisingethylene monomers, either alone or in mixture or copolymer with otherrandomly selected and oriented polyolefins, dienes, or other monomers(such as propylene, butylene, and the like). Such a term alsoencompasses any different configuration and arrangement of theconstituent monomers (such as atactic, syndiotactic, isotactic, and thelike). Thus, the term as applied to fibers is intended to encompassactual long strands, tapes, threads, and the like, of drawn polymer. Thepolyethylene can be of any standard melt flow (by testing); however,standard fiber grade polyethylene resins possess ranges of Melt FlowIndices between about 1 and 1000.

The thermoplastic and/or thermosetting material can further comprise oneor more processing aids. The processing aid can be a non-polymericmaterial. These processing aids can be independently selected from thegroup including, but not limited to, curing agents, initiators,plasticizers, mold release agents, lubricants, antioxidants, flameretardants, dyes, pigments, reinforcing and non-reinforcing fillers,fiber reinforcements, and light stabilizers.

In articles that include a textile, the optical element can be disposedonto the textile. The textile or at least an outer layer of the textilecan includes a thermoplastic material that the optical element candisposed onto. The textile can be a nonwoven textile, a syntheticleather, a knit textile, or a woven textile. The textile can comprise afirst fiber or a first yarn, where the first fiber or the first yarn caninclude at least an outer layer comprising the first thermoplasticmaterial. A region of the first or second side of the structure ontowhich the optical element is disposed can include the first fiber or thefirst yarn in a non-filamentous conformation. The optical element can bedisposed onto the textile or the textile can be processed so that theoptical element can be disposed onto the textile. The textured surfacecan be made of or formed from the textile surface. The optical elementcan be disposed onto the primer layer. The textile surface can be usedto form the textured surface, and either before or after this, theoptical element can be applied to the textile.

A “textile” may be defined as any material manufactured from fibers,filaments, or yarns characterized by flexibility, fineness, and a highratio of length to thickness. Textiles generally fall into twocategories. The first category includes textiles produced directly fromwebs of filaments or fibers by randomly interlocking to constructnon-woven fabrics and felts. The second category includes textilesformed through a mechanical manipulation of yarn, thereby producing awoven fabric, a knitted fabric, a braided fabric, a crocheted fabric,and the like.

The terms “filament,” “fiber,” or “fibers” as used herein refer tomaterials that are in the form of discrete elongated pieces that aresignificantly longer than they are wide. The fiber can include natural,manmade or synthetic fibers. The fibers may be produced by conventionaltechniques, such as extrusion, electrospinning, interfacialpolymerization, pulling, and the like. The fibers can include carbonfibers, boron fibers, silicon carbide fibers, titania fibers, aluminafibers, quartz fibers, glass fibers, such as E, A, C, ECR, R, S, D, andNE glasses and quartz, or the like. The fibers can be fibers formedusing polymeric materials comprising polymers capable of forming fiberssuch as poly(ether ketone), polyimide, polybenzoxazole, poly(phenylenesulfide), polyesters, polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene),aromatic polyamides (e.g., an aramid polymer such as para-aramid fibersand meta-aramid fibers), aromatic polyimides, polybenzimidazoles,polyetherimides, polytetrafluoroethylene, acrylic, modacrylic,poly(vinyl alcohol), polyamides, polyurethanes, and copolymers such aspolyether-polyurea copolymers, polyester-polyurethanes, polyether blockamide copolymers, or the like. The fibers can be natural fibers (e.g.,silk, wool, cashmere, vicuna, cotton, flax, hemp, jute, sisal). Thefibers can be man-made fibers from regenerated natural polymers, such asrayon, lyocell, acetate, triacetate, rubber, and poly(lactic acid).

The fibers can have an indefinite length. For example, man-made andsynthetic fibers are generally extruded in substantially continuousstrands. Alternatively, the fibers can be staple fibers, such as, forexample, cotton fibers or extruded synthetic polymer fibers can be cutto form staple fibers of relatively uniform length. The staple fiber canhave a have a length of about 1 millimeter to 100 centimeters or more aswell as any increment therein (e.g., 1 millimeter increments).

The fiber can have any of a variety of cross-sectional shapes. Naturalfibers can have a natural cross-section, or can have a modifiedcross-sectional shape (e.g., with processes such as mercerization).Man-made or synthetic fibers can be extruded to provide a strand havinga predetermined cross-sectional shape. The cross-sectional shape of afiber can affect its properties, such as its softness, luster, andwicking ability. The fibers can have round or essentially round crosssections. Alternatively, the fibers can have non-round cross sections,such as flat, oval, octagonal, rectangular, wedge-shaped, triangular,dog-bone, multi-lobal, multi-channel, hollow, core-shell, or othershapes.

The fiber can be processed. For example, the properties of fibers can beaffected, at least in part, by processes such as drawing (stretching)the fibers, annealing (hardening) the fibers, and/or crimping ortexturizing the fibers.

In some cases a fiber can be a multi-component fiber, such as onecomprising two or more co-extruded polymeric materials. The two or moreco-extruded polymeric materials can be extruded in a core-sheath,islands-in-the-sea, segmented-pie, striped, or side-by-sideconfiguration. A multi-component fiber can be processed in order to forma plurality of smaller fibers (e.g., microfibers) from a single fiber,for example, by remove a sacrificial material.

The fiber can be a carbon fiber such as TARIFYL produced by FormosaPlastics Corp. of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, (e.g., 12,000, 24,000, and48,000 fiber tows, specifically fiber types TC-35 and TC-35R), carbonfiber produced by SGL Group of Wiesbaden, Germany (e.g., 50,000 fibertow), carbon fiber produced by Hyosung of Seoul, South Korea, carbonfiber produced by Toho Tenax of Tokyo, Japan, fiberglass produced byJushi Group Co., LTD of Zhejiang, China (e.g., E6, 318, silane-basedsizing, filament diameters 14, 15, 17, 21,and 24 micrometers), andpolyester fibers produced by Amann Group of Bonningheim, Germany (e.g.,SERAFILE 200/2 non-lubricated polyester filament and SERAFILE COM PHIL200/2 lubricated polyester filament).

A plurality of fibers includes 2 to hundreds or thousands or morefibers. The plurality of fibers can be in the form of bundles of strandsof fibers, referred to as tows, or in the form of relatively alignedstaple fibers referred to as sliver and roving. A single type fiber canbe used either alone or in combination with one or more different typesof fibers by co-mingling two or more types of fibers. Examples ofco-mingled fibers include polyester fibers with cotton fibers, glassfibers with carbon fibers, carbon fibers with aromatic polyimide(aramid) fibers, and aromatic polyimide fibers with glass fibers.

As used herein, the term “yarn” refers to an assembly including one ormore fibers, wherein the strand has a substantial length and arelatively small cross-section, and is suitable for use in theproduction of textiles by hand or by machine, including textiles madeusing weaving, knitting, crocheting, braiding, sewing, embroidery, orropemaking techniques. Thread is a type of yarn commonly used forsewing.

Yarns can be made using fibers comprising natural, man-made andsynthetic materials. Synthetic fibers are most commonly used to makespun yarns from staple fibers, and filament yarns. Spun yarn is made byarranging and twisting staple fibers together to make a cohesive strand.The process of forming a yarn from staple fibers typically includescarding and drawing the fibers to form sliver, drawing out and twistingthe sliver to form roving, and spinning the roving to form a strand.Multiple strands can be plied (twisted together) to make a thicker yarn.The twist direction of the staple fibers and of the plies can affect thefinal properties of the yarn. A filament yarn refer to a single long,substantially continuous filament, which is conventionally referred toas a “monofilament yarn,” or a plurality of individual filaments groupedtogether. A filament yarn can also refer to two or more long,substantially continuous filaments which are grouped together bygrouping the filaments together by twisting them or entangling them orboth. As with staple yarns, multiple strands can be plied together toform a thicker yarn.

Once formed, the yarn can undergo further treatment such as texturizing,thermal or mechanical treating, or coating with a material such as asynthetic polymer. The fibers, yarns, or textiles, or any combinationthereof, used in the disclosed articles can be sized. Sized fibers,yarns, and/or textiles are coated on at least part of their surface witha sizing composition selected to change the absorption or wearcharacteristics, or for compatibility with other materials. The sizingcomposition facilitates wet-out and wet-through of the coating or resinupon the surface and assists in attaining desired physical properties inthe final article. An exemplary sizing composition can comprise, forexample, epoxy polymers, urethane-modified epoxy polymers, polyesterpolymers, phenol polymers, polyamide polymers, polyurethane polymers,polycarbonate polymers, polyetherimide polymers, polyamideimidepolymers, polystylylpyridine polymers, polyimide polymers bismaleimidepolymers, polysulfone polymers, polyethersulfone polymers,epoxy-modified urethane polymers, polyvinyl alcohol polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, and mixtures thereof.

Two or more yarns can be combined, for example, to form composite yarnssuch as single- or double-covered yarns, and corespun yarns.Accordingly, yarns may have a variety of configurations that generallyconform to the descriptions provided herein.

The yarn can comprise at least one thermoplastic material (e.g., one ormore of the fibers can be made using a thermoplastic material). The yarncan be made of a thermoplastic material. The yarn can be coated with alayer of a material such as a thermoplastic material.

Various techniques exist for mechanically manipulating yarns to form atextile. Such techniques include, for example, interweaving,intertwining and twisting, and interlooping. Interweaving is theintersection of two yarns that cross and interweave at right angles toeach other. The yarns utilized in interweaving are conventionallyreferred to as “warp” and “weft.” A woven textile includes include awarp yarn and a weft yarn. The warp yarn extends in a first direction,and the weft strand extends in a second direction that is substantiallyperpendicular to the first direction. Intertwining and twistingencompasses various procedures, such as braiding and knotting, whereyarns intertwine with each other to form a textile. Interloopinginvolves the formation of a plurality of columns of intermeshed loops,with knitting being the most common method of interlooping. The textilemay be primarily formed from one or more yarns that aremechanically-manipulated, for example, through interweaving,intertwining and twisting, and/or interlooping processes, as mentionedabove.

The textile can be a nonwoven textile. Generally, a nonwoven textile orfabric is a sheet or web structure made from fibers and/or yarns thatare bonded together. The bond can be a chemical and/or mechanical bond,and can be formed using heat, solvent, adhesive or a combinationthereof. Exemplary nonwoven fabrics are flat or tufted porous sheetsthat are made directly from separate fibers, molten plastic and/orplastic film. They are not made by weaving or knitting and do notnecessarily require converting the fibers to yarn, although yarns can beused as a source of the fibers. Nonwoven textiles are typicallymanufactured by putting small fibers together in the form of a sheet orweb (similar to paper on a paper machine), and then binding them eithermechanically (as in the case of felt, by interlocking them with serratedor barbed needles, or hydro-entanglement such that the inter-fiberfriction results in a stronger fabric), with an adhesive, or thermally(by applying binder (in the form of powder, paste, or polymer melt) andmelting the binder onto the web by increasing temperature). A nonwoventextile can be made from staple fibers (e.g., from wetlaid, airlaid,carding/crosslapping processes), or extruded fibers (e.g., frommeltblown or spunbond processes, or a combination thereof), or acombination thereof. Bonding of the fibers in the nonwoven textile canbe achieved with thermal bonding (with or without calendering),hydro-entanglement, ultrasonic bonding, needlepunching (needlefelting),chemical bonding (e.g., using binders such as latex emulsions orsolution polymers or binder fibers or powders), meltblown bonding (e.g.,fiber is bonded as air attenuated fibers intertangle during simultaneousfiber and web formation).

Now having described various aspects of the present disclosure,additional discussion is provided regarding when the optical element isused in conjunction with a bladder. The bladder can be unfilled,partially inflated, or fully inflated when the structural design (e.g.,optical element) is disposed onto the bladder. The bladder is a bladdercapable of including a volume of a fluid. An unfilled bladder is afluid-fillable bladder and a filled bladder that has been at leastpartially inflated with a fluid at a pressure equal to or greater thanatmospheric pressure. When disposed onto or incorporated into an articleof footwear, apparel, or sports equipment, the bladder is generally, atthat point, a fluid-filled bladder. The fluid be a gas or a liquid. Thegas can include air, nitrogen gas (N₂), or other appropriate gas.

The bladder can have a gas transmission rate for nitrogen gas, forexample, where a bladder wall of a given thickness has a gastransmission rate for nitrogen that is at least about ten times lowerthan the gas transmission rate for nitrogen of a butyl rubber layer ofsubstantially the same thickness as the thickness of the bladderdescribed herein. The bladder can have a first bladder wall having afirst bladder wall thickness (e.g., about 0.1 to 40 mils). The bladdercan have a first bladder wall that can have a gas transmission rate(GTR) for nitrogen gas of less than about 15 cm³/m²·atm·day, less thanabout 10 m³/m²·atm·day, less than about 5 cm³/m²·atm·day, less thanabout 1 cm³/m²·atm·day (e.g., from about 0.001 cm³/m²·atm·day to about 1cm³/m²·atm·day, about 0.01 cm³/m²·atm·day to about 1 cm³/m²·atm·day orabout 0.1 cm³/m²·atm·day to about 1 cm³/m²·atm·day) for an average wallthickness of 20 mils. The bladder can have a first bladder wall having afirst bladder wall thickness, where the first bladder wall has a gastransmission rate of 15 cm³/m²·atm·day or less for nitrogen for anaverage wall thickness of 20 mils.

In an aspect, the bladder has a bladder wall having an interior-facingside and an exterior (or externally)-facing side, where the interior (orinternally)-facing side defines at least a portion of an interior regionof the bladder. The single layer or multi-layer optical film (or opticalelement) having a first side and a second opposing side can be disposedon the exterior-facing side of the bladder, the interior-facing side ofthe bladder, or both. The exterior-facing side of the bladder, theinterior-facing side of the bladder, or both can include a plurality oftopographical structures (or profile features) extending from theexterior-facing side of the bladder wall, the interior-facing side ofthe bladder, or both, where the first side or the second side of themulti-layer optical film is disposed on the exterior-facing side of thebladder wall and covering the plurality of topographical structures, theinterior-facing side of the bladder wall and covering the plurality oftopographical structures, or both, and wherein the multi-layer opticalfilm imparts a structural color to the bladder wall.

In a particular aspect, the bladder can include a top wall operablysecured to the footwear upper, a bottom wall opposite the top wall, andone or more sidewalls extending between the top wall and the bottom wallof the inflated bladder. The top wall, the bottom wall, and the one ormore sidewalls collectively define an interior region of the inflatedbladder, and wherein the one or more sidewalls each comprise anexterior-facing side. The multi-layer optical film having a first sideand a second opposing side can be disposed on the exterior-facing sideof the bladder, the interior-facing side of the bladder, or both. Theexterior-facing side of the bladder, the interior-facing side of thebladder, or both can include a plurality of topographical structuresextending from the exterior-facing side of the bladder wall, theinterior-facing side of the bladder, or both, where the first side orthe second side of the multi-layer optical film is disposed on theexterior-facing side of the bladder wall and covering the plurality oftopographical structures, the interior-facing side of the bladder walland covering the plurality of topographical structures, or both, andwherein the multi-layer optical film imparts a structural color to thebladder wall.

An accepted method for measuring the relative permeance, permeability,and diffusion of inflated bladders is ASTM D-1434-82-V. See, e.g., U.S.Pat. No. 6,127,026, which is incorporated by reference as if fully setforth herein. According to ASTM D-1434-82-V, permeance, permeability anddiffusion are measured by the following formulae:

(quantity of gas)/[(area)×(time)×(pressure difference)]=permeance(GTR)/(pressure difference)=cm³/m²·atm·day (i.e., 24 hours)  Permeance

[(quantity of gas)×(film thickness)][(area)×(time)×(pressuredifference)]=permeability [(GTR)×(film thickness)]/(pressuredifference)=[(cm³)(mil)]/m²·atm·day (i.e., 24 hours)  Permeability

(quantity of gas)/[(area)×(time)]=GTR=cm³/m²·day (i.e., 24hours)  Diffusion at one atmosphere

The bladder can include a bladder wall that includes a film including atleast one polymeric layer or at least two or more polymeric layers. Eachof the polymeric layers can be about 0.1 to 40 mils in thickness.

The polymeric layer can include a polymeric material such as athermoplastic material as described above and herein and can be thethermoplastic layer upon which the primer layer, the optical element canbe disposed, upon which the textured layer can be disposed, can be usedto form the textured layer, and the like. The thermoplastic material caninclude an elastomeric material, such as a thermoplastic elastomericmaterial. The thermoplastic materials can include thermoplasticpolyurethane (TPU), such as those described above and herein. Thethermoplastic materials can include polyester-based TPU, polyether-basedTPU, polycaprolactone-based TPU, polycarbonate-based TPU,polysiloxane-based TPU, or combinations thereof. Non-limiting examplesof thermoplastic material that can be used include: “PELLETHANE”2355-85ATP and 2355-95AE (Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Mich., USA),“ELASTOLLAN” (BASF Corporation, Wyandotte, Mich., USA) and “ESTANE”(Lubrizol, Brecksville, Ohio, USA), all of which are either ester orether based. Additional thermoplastic material can include thosedescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,713,141; 5,952,065; 6,082,025; 6,127,026;6,013,340; 6,203,868; and 6,321,465, which are incorporated herein byreference.

The polymeric layer can include a polymeric material including one ormore of the following polymers: ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers(EVOH), poly(vinyl chloride), polyvinylidene polymers and copolymers(e.g., polyvinylidene chloride), polyamides (e.g., amorphouspolyamides), acrylonitrile polymers (e.g., acrylonitrile-methyl acrylatecopolymers), polyurethane engineering plastics, polymethylpenteneresins, ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymers, liquid crystal polymers,polyethylene terephthalate, polyether imides, polyacrylic imides, andother polymeric materials known to have relatively low gas transmissionrates. Blends and alloys of these materials as well as with the TPUsdescribed herein and optionally including combinations of polyimides andcrystalline polymers, are also suitable. For instance, blends ofpolyimides and liquid crystal polymers, blends of polyamides andpolyethylene terephthalate, and blends of polyamides with styrenics aresuitable.

Specific examples of polymeric materials of the polymeric layer caninclude acrylonitrile copolymers such as “BAREX” resins, available fromIneos (Rolle, Switzerland); polyurethane engineering plastics such as“ISPLAST” ETPU available from Lubrizol (Brecksville, Ohio, USA);ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers marketed under the tradenames “EVAL”by Kuraray (Houston, Tex., USA), “SOARNOL” by Nippon Gohsei (Hull,England), and “SELAR OH” by DuPont (Wilmington, Del., USA);polyvinylidiene chloride available from S.C. Johnson (Racine, Wis., USA)under the tradename “SARAN”, and from Solvay (Brussels, Belgium) underthe tradename “IXAN”; liquid crystal polymers such as “VECTRA” fromCelanese (Irving, Tex., USA) and “XYDAR” from Solvay; “MDX6” nylon, andamorphous nylons such as “NOVAMID” X21 from Koninklijke DSM N.V(Heerlen, Netherlands), “SELAR PA” from DuPont; polyetherimides soldunder the tradename “ULTEM” by SABIC (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); poly(vinylalcohol)s; and polymethylpentene resins available from Mitsui Chemicals(Tokyo, Japan) under the tradename “TPX”.

Each polymeric layer of the film can include a thermoplastic materialwhich can include a combination of thermoplastic polymers. In additionto one or more thermoplastic polymers, the thermoplastic material canoptionally include a colorant, a filler, a processing aid, a freeradical scavenger, an ultraviolet light absorber, and the like. Eachpolymeric layer of the film can be made of a different of thermoplasticmaterial including a different type of thermoplastic polymer.

The bladder can be made by applying heat, pressure and/or vacuum to afilm. In this regard, the primer layer, the optical element, thetextured layer, and the like can be disposed, formed from, or the likeprior to, during, and/or after these steps. The bladder (e.g., one ormore polymeric layers) can be formed using one or more polymericmaterials, and forming the bladder using one or more processingtechniques including, for example, extrusion, blow molding, injectionmolding, vacuum molding, rotary molding, transfer molding, pressureforming, heat sealing, casting, low-pressure casting, spin casting,reaction injection molding, radio frequency (RF) welding, and the like.The bladder can be made by co-extrusion followed by heat sealing orwelding to give an inflatable bladder, which can optionally include oneor more valves (e.g., one way valves) that allows the bladder to befilled with the fluid (e.g., gas).

Now having described the optical element, the optional textured surface,and methods of making the article are now described. In an aspect, themethod includes forming the reflective layer (base reflective layer) ofthe optical element. In an aspect, the method includes forming thereflective layer on a surface of an article such as a textile, film,fiber, or monofilament yarn, where the surface can optionally be thetextured surface. The reflective layer can be formed using one or moretechniques described herein.

The method provides for the reflective layer being formed on the surface(e.g., three dimensional flat planar surfaces or substantially threedimensional flat planar surfaces or textured surface). Subsequently, theconstituent layers can be disposed on the reflective layer.Alternatively, the textured surface can be formed in/on the reflectivelayer, and then the constituent layers are disposed on the reflectivelayer. As described herein, the optical element can be formed in alayer-by-layer manner, where each constituent layer has a differentindex of refraction. As each layer is formed the undulations and flatregions are altered. The combination of the optional textured surface(e.g., dimensions, shape, and/or spacing of the profile elements) andthe layers of the optical element (e.g., number of layers, thickness oflayers, material of the layers) and the resultant undulations and planarareas impart the structural color when exposed to visible light. Themethod includes optionally forming a protective layer over the opticalelement to protect the optical element.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes providingreflective layer and the textured surface on the substrate, where thereflective layer (base reflective layer) can be disposed on the texturedsurface. Each constituent layer of the optical element can be formed inturn, where each layer can be formed then after an appropriate amount oftime, additional processing, cooling, or the like, the next layer of theoptical element can be formed. Optionally, non-base reflective layer(s)can be formed between constituent layers. Optionally, the opticalelement does not include a reflective layer. Optionally, the top layer,by itself or in combinations with one or more reflective layers, can beformed on the last constituent layer (one on the side opposite the basereflective layer).

It should be emphasized that the above-described aspects of the presentdisclosure are merely possible examples of implementations, and are setforth only for a clear understanding of the principles of thedisclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to theabove-described aspects of the disclosure without departingsubstantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All suchmodifications and variations are intended to be included herein withinthe scope of this disclosure.

The word “disposing” can be replaced with “operably disposing” in eachof the claims. Measurements for visible light transmittance and visiblelight reflectance were performed using a Shimadzu UV-2600Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu Corporation, Japan). The spectrometer wascalibrated using a standard prior to the measurements. The incidentangle for all measurements was zero, unless the incident angle isintentionally altered. The wavelength resolution can be measured at 0.1nm.

The visible light transmittance was the measurement of visible light (orlight energy) that was transmitted through a sample material whenvisible light within the spectral range of 400 nanometers to 800nanometers was directed through the material. The results of alltransmittance over the range of 400 nanometers to 800 nanometers wascollected and recorded. For each sample, a minimum value for the visiblelight transmittance was determined for this range.

The visible light reflectance was a measurement of the visible light (orlight energy) that was reflected by a sample material when visible lightwithin the spectral range of 400 nanometers to 800 nanometers wasdirected through the material. The results of all reflectance over therange of 400 nanometers to 800 nanometers was collected and recorded.For each sample, a minimum value for the visible light reflectance wasdetermined for this range.

It should be noted that ratios, concentrations, amounts, and othernumerical data may be expressed herein in a range format. It is to beunderstood that such a range format is used for convenience and brevity,and thus, should be interpreted in a flexible manner to include not onlythe numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, butalso to include all the individual numerical values or sub-rangesencompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-rangeis explicitly recited. To illustrate, a concentration range of “about0.1 percent to about 5 percent” should be interpreted to include notonly the explicitly recited concentration of about 0.1 weight percent toabout 5 weight percent but also include individual concentrations (e.g.,1 percent, 2 percent, 3 percent, and 4 percent) and the sub-ranges(e.g., 0.5 percent, 1.1 percent, 2.2 percent, 3.3 percent, and 4.4percent) within the indicated range. The term “about” can includetraditional rounding according to significant figures of the numericalvalue. In addition, the phrase “about ‘x’ to ‘y’” includes “about ‘x’ toabout y”.

The term “providing”, such as for “providing an article” and the like,when recited in the claims, is not intended to require any particulardelivery or receipt of the provided item. Rather, the term “providing”is merely used to recite items that will be referred to in subsequentelements of the claim(s), for purposes of clarity and ease ofreadability.

Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-describedaspects. All such modifications and variations are intended to beincluded herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by thefollowing claims.

We claim:
 1. An article comprising: an optical element on a surface ofthe article, wherein the optical element imparts an achromatic color anda chromatic color to the article.
 2. The article of claim 1, wherein theachromatic color has no hue or chroma and has a value of 0 to 10according to the Munsell color system, wherein the chromatic color hashue, chroma, or both hue and chroma.
 3. The article of claim 1, whereinthe achromatic color is selected from black, white, or neutral gray andwherein the chromatic color is a red/yellow/blue (RYB) primary color, aRYB secondary color, a RYB tertiary color, a RYB quaternary color, a RYBquinary color, or a chromatic color that is a combination thereof. 4.The article of claim 1, wherein the optical element, as disposed ontothe article, as measured according to the CIE 1976 color space under agiven illumination condition has a color measurement that correspondswith the achromatic color, wherein the first color measurement hascoordinates L* and a* and b*, wherein both of a* and b* are equal to 0.5. The article of claim 1, wherein the optical element, as disposed ontothe article, as measured according to the CIE 1976 color space under agiven illumination condition, has a first color measurement thatcorresponds with the achromatic color, wherein the first colormeasurement has coordinates L* and a* and b*, wherein one or both of a*and b* are equal to about 0 or wherein when a* or b* or both a* and b*are not equal to 0 but a* and b* are close enough to 0 that to anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article considers the first colormeasurement achromatic color.
 6. The article of claim 1, wherein theoptical element includes a textured surface having a plurality ofprofile features and flat planar areas, wherein the profile featuresextend above the flat areas of the textured surface, wherein the profilefeatures and the flat areas result in at least one layer of the opticalelement having an undulating topography across the textured surface,wherein the achromatic color, the chromatic color, or both areunaffected or substantially unaffected by the undulating topographyacross the textured surface as compared to a substantially identicaloptical element which is free of the textured surface.
 7. An articlecomprising: an optical element on a surface of the article, wherein theoptical element imparts a first structural color and a second structuralcolor at different angles of observation, at different angles ofincident light, or at both different angles of observation and differentangles of incident light, wherein the first structural color is anachromatic color and the second structural color is a chromatic color.8. The article of claim 7, wherein the achromatic color is selected fromblack, white, or neutral gray.
 9. The article of claim 7, wherein theachromatic color has no hue or chroma and has a value of 0 to 10according to the Munsell color system.
 10. The article of claim 7,wherein the optical element imparts the first structural color to thearticle from a first angle of observation or a first angle of incidentlight and imparts the second structural color to the article from asecond angle of observation or a second angle of incident light, whereinthe first angle and the second angle are different by at least 15degrees.
 11. The article of claim 8, wherein the achromatic color isblack at the first angle of observation, wherein the optical elementreflects all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740nanometers to substantially the same degree at the first angle ofobservation, wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.
 12. The article of claim 11, wherein the percent reflectance ofthe optical element is about 2 percent or less at the first angle ofobservation for all of the wavelengths within the range of about 380 toabout 740 nanometers or wherein the percent absorbance of the opticalelement is about 98 percent or more at the first angle of observationfor all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about 740nanometers, wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.
 13. The article of claim 8, wherein the achromatic color iswhite, wherein the optical element absorbs all wavelengths within therange of about 380 to about 740 nanometers to substantially the samedegree the first angle of observation, wherein the observation angle isan observation angle at which the achromatic color is visible to anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article.
 14. The article of claim 13,wherein the percent absorbance of the optical element is about 2 percentor less at the first angle of observation for all wavelengths within therange of about 380 to about 740 nanometers or wherein the percentreflectance of the optical element is about 98 percent or more at thefirst angle of observation for all wavelengths within the range of about380 to about 740 nanometers, wherein the observation angle is anobservation angle at which the achromatic color is visible to anobserver having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from adistance of about 1 meter from the article.
 15. The article of claim 8,wherein the achromatic color is neutral gray, wherein the percentabsorbance of the optical element is about 2 to 98 percent at the firstangle of observation for all wavelengths within the range of about 380to about 740 nanometers or wherein the percent reflectance of theoptical element is about 2 to 98 percent at the first angle ofobservation for all wavelengths within the range of about 380 to about740 nanometers, wherein the observation angle is an observation angle atwhich the achromatic color is visible to an observer having 20/20 visualacuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from thearticle.
 16. The article of claim 10, wherein the optical element, asdisposed onto the article, when measured according to the CIE 1976 colorspace under a given illumination condition at angle of observation, hasa color measurement that corresponds with the first structural color,wherein the first color measurement has coordinates L₁* and a₁* andb_(1*), wherein both of a₁* and b₁* are equal to about 0 or wherein whena* or b* or both a* and b* are not equal to 0 but a* and b* are closeenough to 0 that to an observer having 20/20 visual acuity and normalcolor vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article considersthe first structural color achromatic; wherein the optical element, asdisposed onto the article, when measured according to the CIE 1976 colorspace under a given illumination condition at angle of observation, hasa color measurement that corresponds with the second structural color,wherein the second color measurement has coordinates L₂* and a₂* andb₂*, wherein at least one of a₂* or b₂* is greater than 0 or less than 0or optionally wherein when a* or b* or both a* and b* are not equal to 0but a* and b* are far enough from 0 that to an observer having 20/20visual acuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meterfrom the article considers the second structural color chromatic. 17.The article claim 10, wherein the optical element includes a texturedsurface having a plurality of profile features and flat planar areas,wherein the profile features extend above the flat areas of the texturedsurface, wherein the profile features and the flat areas result in atleast one layer of the optical element having an undulating topographyacross the textured surface, wherein the achromatic color at the firstangle of observation is unaffected or substantially unaffected by theundulating topography across the textured surface as compared to asubstantially identical optical element which is free of the texturedsurface and wherein the chromatic color at the second angle ofobservation is unaffected or substantially unaffected by the undulatingtopography across the textured surface as compared to a substantiallyidentical optical element which is free of the textured surface.
 18. Thearticle of claim 7, wherein the optical element includes at least onelayer, wherein at least layer is made of a material selected from metal,metal oxide, or stainless steel.
 19. The article of claim 7, wherein thearticle is a non-woven synthetic leather upper for an article offootwear.
 20. The article of claim 7, wherein the chromatic color iscyan, blue, indigo, violet, or a chromatic color that is a combinationthereof.